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David PetersMaster’s CandidateUniversity of Tennessee

Photo: Courtney Cox

October 31, 2012, 12:20PM Room 160 PBB

• Introduction• Objectives• Study Site• Methodologyet odo ogy• Analysis

• Annual region-wide decline of 4.0%

• 2.9% decline within Kentucky

Source: Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, J. E. Fallon, K. L. Pardieck, D. J. Ziolkowski, Jr., and W. A. Link. 2011. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 ‐ 2010. Version 12.07.2011 USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD

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• Habitat Loss • Increase in clean farming practices• Successional advancement from lack of prescribed fires &

wildfires• Urbanization

• Habitat FragmentationD li f ti l d i di it• Decline of native grasslands species diversity

SMCRA (1977) Minimize adverse impacts on wildlife populations and

unique habitats Establishment of large tracts early successional

habitat

Table 1. Eastern US coal-mined land areas reclaimed in acres under reclaimed in acres under

SMCRA, 1978-2005State Phase III

Released Phase I

Released (2001-2005)

Total

KY 601,783 64,479 666,262

Total 1,389,881 160,148 1,550,030

1 Including the interim SMCRA program. Source US OSMRE “20th Anniversary of the Surface Mining Law” (http://www.osmre.gov/annivrep.htm) and annual reports to Congress.2 As reported by states to OSMRE; these figures overestimate total affected areas due to double‐counting of areas that were both mined and re‐mined under SMCRA.3 Estimated from total Kentucky areas, as proportionate to the east‐west distribution of surface coal tonnage.

SMCRA states that “…introduced species may be used in the revegetation process where desirable and necessary to achieve the approved postmining land use plan…”

Focus:Prevent Erosion Within First 5 yearsPrevent Erosion Within First 5 years

Establishment of Lespedeza cuneataand other invasive non-natives

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Quality of reclaimed mines to Bobwhite?

Research is lacking

• No bobwhite studies conducted on reclaimed mines

• Few population ecology studies done in Central Hardwood Conservation Region (Stanford 1972, Roseberry and Klimstra 1984, Burger 1995)

• Measure habitat use and population dynamics of bobwhites in these areas

1. Measure fecundity• Nest success• Nest productivity

2. Analyze survival rates as a function of various habitat characteristicshabitat characteristics

3. Estimate population densities4. Perform a life stage analysis (LSA)

Data collection: Fall 2009 – Fall 2013

1. Ho: There will be no change in population density in areas treated for habitat improvement versus untreated areas;

2. Ho: There will be no difference in survivalin areas treated for habitat improvement versus untreated areas;

3. Ho: There will be no difference in fecundity and recruitment in areas treated for habitat improvement versus untreated areas;

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Ken Unit4,578 ac

Ohio County

Sinclair Unit3,632 ac

Muhlenberg County

Four major vegetation types = 91% of area Forest Deciduous (FD) Native Warm-Season Grass (NWSG) Open Herbaceous (OH) Scrub Shrub (SS)

Photo: Jarred Brooke

Photo: Jarred Brooke

Site Control Treatment

Ken 2,576 ac 2,001 ac

Sinclair 1,660 ac 1,971 ac

Treatment : ½ of each study site was randomly assigned to receive intensive management treatments

Prescribed Fire Disking NWSG Plantings Herbicide Application

Control : other ½ of the site will be minimally disturbed and serve as a control

Result of standard reclamation procedures (SMCRA 1977)

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Prescribed Burning

Photo: Eric Williams

Disking

Photo: Eric Williams

NWSG Plantings

Photo: Eric Williams

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Herbicide Application

Photo: Eric Williams

200

250

300

350

400

Acr

Total Treatments on Peabody WMA

Sinclair

Ken

Treatments

0

50

100

150

Disked Fall 2009

and Spring 2010

Disked Fall 2010

and Spring 2011

Disked Fall 2011

and Spring 2012

Burned Spring 2011

Burned Fall 2011

Burned Summer

2012 (Wildfire)

Aerial Sprayed

2010

NWSG Plantings

2011

es

Years Total Treatment Acres = 1553.13

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• Stoddard funnel traps (Stoddard 1931)• Birds double banded• Fitted with necklace-style collars (<6.5 grams)• Sex, age, weight and condition is noted• Goal is 100 birds per site & 50 per unit

Male Female

Telemetry used to monitor movement, habitat use, and survival• Birds located >3 times/week• Broods/Nests located daily• Homing in on birds from 10-50m• Time, activity, and vegetation type noted

Survival Estimates• Assessed through telemetry• If mortality occurs, determine cause of death (if possible)• By units, sex, and age (if sample size permits)• Relate survival to vegetation

Seasonal Estimates• Winter (October 1st-March 31st) • Summer (April 1st-September 30th)

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• Fecundity Estimated by nest success and nest productivity

• Nest success and productivity Nest located through telemetry Nest monitored daily (eggs checked if adult is away from nest) Fate of nest recorded (Abandoned, Destroyed, Hatched)

• Covey survey conducted twice from October-November Not during inclement weather 45 minutes before sunrise

• Survey points set up to cover ~30% of study area• Location and distance of calling coveys recorded• Coveys flushed after survey• Apply calling rate to estimate density

• Using bird location plus paired random point

Subset of birds to run survival model

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Parameter Summer Winter Nesting

Vegetation Type x x x

Woody Stem Densityx x x

Visual Obstruction x x xVisual Obstruction x x x

Distance to Edge x x x

Distance to Bare Ground x

Litter Depth x x x

Species Composition x x x

Ground Sighting Distance x

Nesting Substrate x

Analysis

Survival Hierarchical approach

Nest survival by vegetation type using ANOVA

Density covey census

LSA Linear regression analyses will be run using Program

SAS (Proc REG; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) Parameters will include: summer survival winter survival nest survival

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Survival Estimates: winter, summer Program MARK using known fate models w/

covariates (Kaplan–Meier staggered entry)

Nest survivalMayfield estimator (Program MARK if sample sizeMayfield estimator (Program MARK if sample size

permits) w/ covariates

CovariatesMacro-habitat vegetation measuresMicro-habitat vegetation measures

Based on 3 scales:Group Categorical variables

Home RangeHome Range >20 locations, 95% Fixed Kernel

Landscape Home Range + 2x average daily

movement

Group(5)

Macro-habitat(11)

Micro-habitat(5)

Site Contagion Index % NWSG

Edge Density

Variables

SexEdge Density

Forest vs. Open% Sericea

AgeEdge Density

Shrub vs. OpenPresence/Absence of

Litter

GroupCore Area of SS,

OH, FD, and NWSG Sight Tube Distance

Year% of Home Range in SS, OH, FD, and

NWSG

Woody Stem Density

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Null Model

Group Model

Home Range Model+

Landscape Model(Macro-habitat variables)

Home Range Model+

Landscape Model(Micro-habitat variables)

Final Model

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife ResourcesEric Williams

The University of Tennessee – Knoxville Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries

Hardworking TechniciansJarred BrookeJarred BrookeCommittee:

1. Patrick Keyser – major professor 2. Craig Harper3. Joseph Clark4. John Morgan

Peabody Crew

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Brady, S. J., C. H. Flather, K. E. Church. 1998. Range-wide declines of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus): Land use patterns and population trends. International Symposium on Partridges Quails and Pheasants in the Western Palearctic and the Nearctic. Gibier Faune Sauvage, Game Wildlife 15: 413-431.

Brennan, L. A. 1991. How can we reverse the northern bobwhite population decline? Wildlife Society Bulletin 19: 544-555.

Brennan, L. A. 1999. Northern Bobwhite. The Birds of North America. No. 397.

Burger, Jr., L. W., T. V. Dailey, E. W. Kurzejeski, M. R. Ryan. 1995. Survival and cause-specific mortality of northern bobwhite in Missouri. The Journal of Wildlife Management 59(2): 401-410.

DeMaso, S. J., F. S. Guthery, G. S. Spears, S. M. Rice. 1992. Morning covey calls as an index of northern bobwhite density. Wildlife Society Bulletin 20: 94-101.

DeMaso, S. J., A. D. Peoples, S. A. Cox, E. S. Parry. 1997. Survival of northern bobwhite chicks in western Oklahoma. The Journal of Wildlife Management 61:846-853.

Dimmick, R.W., M.J. Gudlin, and D.F. McKenzie. 2002. The northern bobwhite conservation initiative. Miscellaneous publication of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, South Carolina. 96 pp.

Holt, R. D., L. W. Burger, Jr., B. D. Leopold, D. Godwin. 2009. Over-winter survival of northern bobwhite in relation to landscape composition and structure. Pages g p p p g432-446 in S. B. Decerbaum, B. C. Faircloth, T. M. Terhune, J. j. Thompson, J. P. Carroll, eds. Gamebird 2006:Quail VI and Perdix XII. 31 May-4 June 2006. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Athens Georgia, USA.

Kozicky, E. L., R. J. Jessen, G. O. Hendrickson, E. B. Speaker. 1956. Estimation of fall quail populations in Iowa. The Journal of Wildlife Management 20: 97-104.

Mayfield, H. 1961. Nesting success calculated from exposure. Wilson Bulletin 73(3):255-261.

Mills, L. S. 2007. Conservation of Wildlife Populations: Demography, Genetics, and Management. Wiley-Blackwell, New York, USA.

O’Neill, R. V., J. R. Krummel, R. H. Gardner, G. Sugihara, B. Jackson, D. L. DeAngelis, B. T. Milne, M. G. Turner, B. Zygmunt, S. W. Christensen, V. H. Dale, and R. L. Graham. 1988. Indices of landscape pattern. Landscape Ecology 1(3):153-162.

Palmer, W. E., S. D. Wellendorf, L. A. Brennan, W. R. Davidson, F. E. Kellogg. 2002. Hunting success and northern bobwhite density on Tall Timbers Research Station: 1970-2001. Pages 213-216 in S. J. DeMaso, W. P. Kuvlesky, Jr., F. Hernández, and M. E. Berger, eds. Quail V: Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin, TX.

Riddle, J. D., C. E. Moorman, K. H. Pollock. 2008. A comparison of methods for estimating northern bobwhite covey detection probabilities. The Journal of Wildlife Management 72: 1437-1442.

Roseberry, J. L. 1982. Bobwhite. Pages 68-70 in D. E. Davis, editor. Handbook of census methods for terrestrial vertebrates. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.

Roseberry, J. L., W. D. Klimstra. 1984. Population ecology of the bobwhite. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA.

Rusk, J. P., F. Hernández, J. A. Arredondo, F. Hernández, F. C. Bryant, D. G. Hewitt, E. J. Redeker, L. A. Brennan, R. L. Bingham. 2007. An evaluation of survey methods for estimating northern bobwhite abundance in southern Texas. The Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 1336-1343.

Rusk, J. P., J. L. Scott, F. Hernández, F. C. Bryant. 2009. Refining the morning covey-call survey to estimate northern bobwhite abundance. Pages 38-45 in Cederbaum, S. B., Faircloth, B. C., Terhune, T. M., Thompson, J. J., Carroll, J. P., eds. Gamebird 2006: Quail VI and Perdix XII. 31 May-4 June 2006. WarnellSchool of Forestry and Natural Resources, Athens, Georgia, USA.

Sandercock, B. K., Jensen, W. E., Williams, C. K., & Applegate, R. D. (2008). Demographic Sensitivity of Population Change in Northern Bobwhite. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 72(4), 970–982. doi:10.2193/2007-124

Sauer, J. R., J. E. Hines, J. E. Fallon, K. L. Pardieck, D. J. Ziolkowski, Jr., and W. A. Link. 2011. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2010. Version 12.07.2011 USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD

Singh, A., T. C. Hines, J. A. Hostetler, H. F. Percival, and M. K. Oli. 2010-b. Patterns of space and habitat use by northern bobwhites in South Florida, USA. European Journal of Wildlife Research 57:15–26.

Stanford, J. A. 1972. Bobwhite quail population dynamics: relationships of weather, nesting, production patterns, fall population characteristics, and harvest in Missouri quail. Proceedings of the National Bobwhite Quail Symposium 1: 115-139.

Stoddard H L 1931 The bobwhite quail: its habits preservation and increase Charles Scibner’s Sons New York N Y 559pp Stoddard, H. L. 1931. The bobwhite quail: its habits, preservation and increase. Charles Scibner’s Sons, New York, N.Y. 559pp.

Terhune, T. M., D. C. Sisson, J. B. Grand, H. L. Stribling. 2007. Factors influencing survival of radiotagged and banded northern bobwhites in Georgia. The Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 1288-1297.

Twedt, D. J., R. R. Wilson, A. S. Keister. 2006. Spatial models of northern bobwhite populations for conservation planning. The Journal of Wildlife Management 71: 1808-1818.

Veech, J. A. 2006. Increasing and declining populations of northern bobwhites inhabit different types of landscapes. The Journal of Wildlife Management 70:992-930.

Wellendorf, S. D., W. E. Palmer, P. T. Bromley. 2004. Estimating call rates of northern bobwhite coveys and censusing population. The Journal of Wildlife Management 68: 672-682.

White, C. G., K. P. Burnham. 1999. Program MARK: Survival estimation from populations of marked animals. Bird Study 46 Supplement:120-138.

Internet Sources http://bringbackbobwhites.org

http://www.fs.usda.gov

http://www.nps.gov

http://www.osmre.gov/annivrep.htm

Questions?

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The loss of native grasslands affects more than bobwhite quail. For instance, grassland birds are declining at faster rates than any other community of birds in North America.

http://bringbackbobwhites.org

Non-migratory species = no federal responsibility Efforts must come from region/state level!

• NBCI• Restore populations to

the density of 1980

Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative

the density of 1980 through habitat-oriented plans

• Impact habitat on 81.1 million acres

Dimmick, R.W., M.J. Gudlin, and D.F. McKenzie. 2002. The northern bobwhite conservation initiative. Miscellaneous publication of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, South Carolina. 96 pp.

•Conservation and interest groups•National Bobwhite Technical Committee•Quail Unlimited•Quail Forever•State Agency Initiatives

•USDA Farm Bill programsUSDA Farm Bill programs•CRP

•CP-33•CP-38

•CREP•GRP•EQIP

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Wildfire on July 6th, 2012• 128 acres

Treatments

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Managed under Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife

Reclaimed coal mine released inmine released in 1995

Over 8,200 acres

Four major vegetation types = 91% of area