Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
no report submitted
Impacts
This project is already impacting management of farmland in Georgia both with the adoption of alternative cropping systems and field margin management and demonstrating the positive benefits to bobwhite quail as a flagship for farmland ecosystems.
Publications
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Progress 12/01/98 to 11/30/03
Outputs
Northern bobwhite populations have undergone long-term and dramatic declines in the South. Ironically, we are now observing some of the densest populations of the northern bobwhite even on some of the quail plantations in southern Georgia and northern Florida; however, populations on the wider landscape have continued to decline and local extinction is common. Integration of forest management practices, such as low-density and uneven-age pine management, and agriculture, where gamebirds can be managed as an additional resource, might provide incentive to landowners to undertake more wildlife friendly practices. In addition to the northern bobwhite, there is a range of other early successional birds that have undergone similar long-term population declines. Linking important gamebirds and land management in Georgia will provide opportunities for enhancing wildlife populations in the context of rural community development through alternative income opportunities. The
northern bobwhite is one of the most studied birds, yet, our understanding of how to integrate our knowledge of the species' biology into practical landscape management in the Southeast is lacking. Because of our understanding of many of the specific habitat needs of the northern bobwhite, many management practices have been identified that potentially are beneficial. The key approach is to determine how we can alter land management on a landscape scale in the Southeast to produce sustainable populations of this species. Two factors appear to pressure populations of the northern bobwhite and other early successional species in the Southeast. During the latter half of this century, many farms were abandoned. This land has been replaced by forest and urban land uses. Although beneficial to early successional species for short periods of time, unless managed properly, these habitats usually result in large areas of unsuitable habitat. In addition to loss of farm acreage, there has been
pressure for greater productivity from remaining acres and shifts in agricultural systems. In the Upper Coastal Plain intensive commodity crops such as cotton and peanuts predominate. Present management of much of the agricultural and forest land in the Southeast makes them unsuitable as quail habitats. Even set-aside programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program have not yielded desired conservation benefits through an emphasis on permanent plantings of forage grasses or densely-stocked pines. This project quantified the value of habitat manipulation on northern bobwhite (e.g., field borders, buffer strips, low density pine forest management, forest edge management, crop-field edge management). It also quantified changes in northern bobwhite productivity and populations over time. We also develop a landscape habitat management model to integrate habitat management into a landscape approach for quail management. This project demonstrated the effects of gamebird management on
predators and competitors, as well interactions among these species. Finally this project quantified genetic effects of habitat fragmentation on gamebirds.
Impacts
This project has impacted the management of northern bobwhites in Georgia and the Southeast through a variety of results. Information on the impacts of State run habitat management programs were demonstrated to have a modest positive impact on quail on a regional level. These data are being used by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to more efficiently implement the Bobwhite Quail Initiative in Georgia. In addition the project demonstrated the positive impacts of alternative cotton cropping systems on birds as well as the impacts of some wildlife management program impacts on quail brood ecology. Finally, we demonstrated the positive impacts of more intensive management for northern bobwhites including feeding and predation management. This is allowing land owners in South Georgia and North Florida to more effectively manage their bobwhite populations.
Publications
- Hamrick, R.G. and J.P. Carroll. 2005. Northern bobwhite covey-call-indices: evaluating alternative techniques for autumn population monitoring. Pages xx-xx in Proceedings of the 3rd International Galliformes Symposium. Wildlife Institute, Dehra Dun, India. in press
- Brennan, LA. and J.P. Carroll. 2000. Strategic plan for quails of North America. Pages 233-235 in L.A. Brennan, W.E. Palmer, L.W. Burger, and T.L. Prudens, eds. Quail IV: Proceedings of the Fourth National Quail Symposium. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee.
- Faircloth, B. C., A. Reid, T. Valentine, S. H. Eo, T. M. Terhune, T. C. Glenn, W. E. Palmer, C. J. Nairn, and J. P. Carroll. 2005. Tetratnucleotide, trinucleotide, and dinucleotide loci from the bobcat (Lynx rufus). Molecular Ecology Notes. 5:387-389.
- Staller, E.L, W.E. Palmer, J.P. Carroll, R.P. Thornton, and D.C. Sisson. 2005. Identifying predators at northern bobwhite nests and nest predation relative to predator abundance Journal of Wildlife Management. 69:124-132.
- Faircloth, B.C., W.E. Palmer, and J.P. Carroll. 2005. Post-hatch brood amalgamation in northern bobwhite. Journal of Field Ornithology. 76:175-182.
- Cederbaum, S.B., J.P. Carroll, and R.J. Cooper. 2004. Effects of alternative cotton agriculture on avian and arthropod populations. Conservation Biology 18:1272-1282.
- Schable, N.A., B.C. Faircloth, W.E. Palmer, J.P. Carroll, L.W. Burger, L.A. Brennan, C. Hagen, and T.C. Glenn. 2004. Tetranucleotide and dinucleotide microsatellite loci from the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). Molecular Ecology Notes 4:415-419
- Edge, J.M., J.H. Benedict, J.P. Carroll, and H.K. Reding. 2001. Bollgard Cotton: An Assessment of Global Economic, Environmental, and Social Benefits. Journal of Cotton Science 5:121-136.
- Rollins, D. and J.P. Carroll. 2001. Impacts of predation on northern bobwhite and scaled quail. Wildlife Society Bulletin 29:39-51
- Stapleton, Seth. 2005. Snake community ecology relative to bobwhite quail management. MS Thesis, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
- Cook, Patrick. 2004. Effects of field margin management of bobwhite quail demographics. MS Thesis, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
- Burkhart, Jason. 2004. Impacts of Bermuda grass invasion on crop field margin management. MS Thesis, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
- Thornton, Ryan. 2003. Demographic effects of mammalian predator removal on bobwhite quail. MS Thesis, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
- Cederbaum, Sandra. 2002. Effects of alternative cotton cropping systems on songbirds. MS Thesis, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
- Utz, K., J.P. Carroll, and S.J. Moreby. 2002. Comparison of northern of northern bobwhite chick fecal and crop analyses. Quail V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium 5:225-228.
- Maidens, D.A., and J.P. Carroll. 2002. Characteristics of four agricultural crops established as northern bobwhite brood habitat. Quail V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium 5:146-150.
- Staller, E.L., W.E. Palmer, and J.P. Carroll. 2002. Macrohabitat composition surrounding successful and depredated northern bobwhite nests. Quail V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium 5:61-64.
- Hamrick, Richard. 2002.Response of bobwhite quail to a landscape level habitat management program. MS Thesis, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
- Maidens, Denise. 2001. Value of food plots for bobwhite quail brood habita. MS Thesis, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
- Staller, Eric. 2001. Nest predation of bobwhite quail using continuous video monitoring. MS Thesis, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
1. Population analyses continued relative to the Bobwhite Quail Initiative in 14 counties of the upper coastal plain of Georgia. Autumn covey counts of quail were completed as were songbird counts on BQI managed farms and control farms. One M.S. student completed thesis. 2. Completed research on value of various crops planted in wildlife habitat management plots on bobwhite brood ecology. Student completed M.S. thesis. 3. Completed research on alternative cotton cropping systems and bobwhite and songbird ecology. M.S. student completed her thesis. 4. Continued study which experimentally manipulates meso-mammalian predator populations and their impacts on quail ecology, in conjunction with USDA-Wildlife Services, Auburn University, and Tall Timbers Research Station. 6. Completed field work for study on songbird and quail population in the Longleaf CPA in CRP in conjunction with NRCS. Student is now writing his M.S. thesis. 7. Completed first year of radio-telemetry
study on bobwhites relative to the Bobwhite Quail Initiative.
Impacts
This project is already impacting management of farmland in Georgia both with the adoption of alternative cropping systems and field margin management and demonstrating the positive benefits to bobwhite quail as a flagship for farmland ecosystems.
Publications
- Utz, K., J.P. Carroll, and S.J. Moreby. 2002. Comparison of northern of northern bobwhite chick fecal and crop analyses. Quail V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium 5:225-228.
- Maidens, D.A., and J.P. Carroll. 2002. Characteristics of four agricultural crops established as northern bobwhite brood habitat. Quail V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium 5:146-150.
- Staller, E.L., W.E. Palmer, and J.P. Carroll. 2002. Macrohabitat composition surrounding successful and depredated northern bobwhite nests. Quail V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium 5:61-64.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
1. Population analyses continued relative to the Bobwhite Quail Initiative in 14 counties of the upper coastal plain of Georgia. Autumn covey counts of quail were completed as were songbird counts on BQI managed farms and control farms. M.S. student is now writing his thesis. 2. Completed research on value of various crops planted in wildlife habitat management plots on bobwhite brood ecology. Student completed M.S. thesis. 3. Completed research on alternative cotton cropping systems and bobwhite and songbird ecology. Two students completed Senior theses, one M.S. student is now writing her thesis. 4. Completed initial study of bobwhite quail nest predation. Student completed thesis. 5. Initiated new study which experimentally manipulates meso-mammalian predator populations and their impacts on quail ecology, in conjunction with USDA-Wildlife Services, Auburn University, and Tall Timbers Research Station. 6. Initiated new study on songbird population in the Longleaf
CPA in CRP in conjunction with NRCS. 7. Iniated new radio-telemetry study on bobwhites relative to the Bobwhite Quail Initiative.
Impacts
These research projects will have major implications on future management of quail and farmland in Georgia.
Publications
- Staller, E. L. 2001. Identifying predators and fates of northern bobwhite nests using miniature video cameras. M.S. Thesis, University of Georgia. 53pp.
- Conroy, M.J. and J.P. Carroll 2001 Estimating abundance of Galliformes: tools and their application Pages 204-215 in M. Woodburn et al. Galliformes 2000. Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Goldberg, E. and J. Carroll 2001 Effects of alternative cotton cropping systems on northern bobwhtite quail brood habitat Page 250 in M. Woodburn et al. Galliformes 2000. Kathmandu, Nepal. (Abstract)
- Hamrick, R.G., R. Thackston, and J.P. Carroll 2001 The "Bobwhite Quail Initiative" in Georgia, USA: using a game species to benefit conservation Page 250 in M. Woodburn et al. Galliformes 2000. Kathmandu, Nepal. (Abstract)
- Maidens, D., R. Hudson, and J. Carroll 2001 Macroinvertebrate availability and use by northern bobwhite quail chicks in four agricultural crops Page 250 in M. Woodburn et al. Galliformes 2000. Kathmandu, Nepal. (Abstract)
- Rollins, D. and J.P. Carroll 2001 Impacts of predation on northern bobwhite and scaled quail Wildlife Society Bulletin 29:39-51.
- Edge, J.M., J.H. Benedict, J.P. Carroll, and H.K. Reding 2001 Bollgard cotton: an assessment of global economic, environmental and social benefits Journal of Cotton Science 5:121-136
- Utz, K, J.P. Carroll, and S.J. Moreby 2002 Comparison of northern bobwhite chick fecal and crop analyses Pages 210-213 in S.J DeMaso et al. , Quail V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., Austin (in press)
- Maidens, D.A. and J.P. Carroll 2002 Characterstics of four agricultural crops established as northern bobwhite brood habitat Pages 131-135 in S.J DeMaso et al. , Quail V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., Austin (in press)
- Staller, E.L, W.E. Palmer, and J.P. Carroll 2002. Macrohabitat composition surrounding successful and depredated northern bobwhite nests. Pages 61-64 in S.J DeMaso et al. , Quail V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., Austin
- Maidens, D. A. 2001. Assessing macroinvertebrate assemblages in four different crop types established as northern bobwhite brood habitat in South Georgia. M.S. Thesis, University of Georgia. 153pp.
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
We are undertaking a number of subprojects. All are just starting or have completed one year of data collection. Monitoring the effects of the Georgia Bobwhite Quail initiative on quail populations. We collected population data both pre- and post-treatment. Preliminary results suggest that the field margin management to produce brood habitat helped maintain or increase quail numbers compared to decrease in quail numbers on control sites. Monitoring the effects of the Georgia Bobwhite Quail initiative on wintering songbird populations. Data collection is completed over two field seasons both pre-and post-treatment. Preliminary results suggest that field margin management is having a positive impact on wintering grassland and shrub-successional songbirds. Development of population estimation techniques for land-scale management programs. We monitored quail populations using the Tall Timbers Research Station protocol. This turns out to be far too labor intensive for a
regional population monitoring program. We are developing modifications to standard distance estimation techniques in conjunction with the TTRS quadrat technique. Data analysis is now be undertaken. Bermuda grass invasion of field margins managed for quail brood habitat. We completed intensive vegetation monitoring of field margins. Bermuda grass was found quite extensively in managed areas. This suggested that we assess its impact on quail brood ecology and potential impacts of grass specific herbicides on habitat quality. Small block plantings in agricultural areas for bobwhite quail brood habitat. We completed two replicated experiments using human imprinted quail chicks to assess the quality of small block plantings of wheat, soybeans, millet, and sorghum. Data analysis is being completed. Effects of clover-strip till cotton on the bobwhite quail brood habitat. We completed two seasons of replicated experiments using human imprinted quail chicks to compare foraging habitat
quality. Initial data suggests that both clover strip-till and conservation tillage are better foraging habitats than conventional cotton. Effects of clover-strip till cotton on populations and nesting ecology of early successional songbirds. We completed two seasons of replicated experiments. Initial data suggests that both clover strip-till and conservation tillage have higher bird populations and species diversity than conventional cotton. Data analysis on nesting and brood ecology are being completed.
Impacts
The monitoring work on the BQI program has provided enough baseline data to the funding bodies to support the management program. The clover strip-till research has already provided agronomists with another reason why farmers should adopt or try these alternative management systems.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
In July 1999, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources started the Bobwhite Quail Initiative and began accepting applications from farmers to enroll agricultural fields and pine plantations for development of bobwhite quail habitat. More than 50 farms are enrolled incorporating one or more conservation measures including herbaceous field margins, herbaceous strips across fields, herbaceous corners to center pivot irrigation fields, and burning of open pine stands. We conducted quadrat and point counts for bobwhite quail on each field entered in the program and paired each with a nearby field that is not part of the program. In addition, on each pair of treated and untreated fields winter songbirds surveys were conducted. Presently we are mapping each of the pairs of fields. Analysis of the data will begin in January 2000. We monitored the value of small managed blocks associated will crop fields as brood habitat for northern bobwhite quail chicks. We foraged human
imprinted quail chicks in blocks containing planted millet, sorghum, soybeans, or wheat. This was done twice during the brood rearing season in Georgia. Presently, invertebrates collected from chick crops and from d-vac samples are being analyzed in the lab. We monitored the value of conservation tillage and clover strip-cropping in cotton as brood habitat for bobwhite quail chicks. Once again, human imprinted chicks were used to sample habitat quality. Fifteen cotton fields were managed for conventional tillage, conservation tillage or clover strip cropping. Each field was sampled with broods twice during the normal brood rearing season. Preliminary results suggest that earlier in the summer both conservation tillage and clover strip-cropped fields produce much larger numbers of insects than conventional cotton. However, later in the summer only clover-strip-cropped fields retained high available insect numbers. Data analysis will continue on during early 2000.
Impacts
The northern bobwhite quail and other early successional birds are declining throughout the South. Improved management of fragmented agricultural habitats will improve populations of these species.
Publications
- Cederbaum, S.B., E.B. Goldberg, R.J. Cooper, and J.P. Carroll. 1999. Effects of clover stripcover cropping of cotton on songbirds populations and northern bobwhite brood habitat. Page 73 in J.E. Hook (ed.) Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture, Tifton, GA 6-8 July 1999. Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station Special Publication 95. Athens, GA.
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Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98
Outputs
Planning for field work has begun. Presently waiting for approval of animal use permit from University of Georgia.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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