Project Summary

Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) have suffered population declines since the 1960s. Research has suggested that a major component of the decline is decreased chick survival, possibly due to diminished invertebrate populations precipitated by modern farming practices. To mitigate these negative effects on wildlife, the Conservation Reserve Program has assisted producers in planting native grasses and forbs with various management practices. CP10 fields had lower bare ground and forbs compared to the other conservation practices. Additionally, distances traveled were lower in these fields, and the effort required to move through these fields were higher. Foraging rates in CP10 fields were 2 times higher for pheasant than bobwhite chicks. Fields with more open ground and forbs permitted an increase in the diversity of insects selected. These factors taken together suggest that these fields should be managed for more open spaces with practices such as light disking or burning.

Information

• MS completed 12/2005
• Accepted to PhD program at Oklahoma State University