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- Title
Northern bobwhite habitat use in a food subsidized pyric landscape.
- Authors
McGrath, Diana J.; Terhune, Theron M.; Martin, James A.
- Abstract
ABSTRACT Animals inhabiting disturbance-prone systems, such as the northern bobwhites ( Colinus virginianus) in pine ( Pinus spp.) savanna, are adapted to certain intensities of disturbance (e.g., frequency, spatial extent, seasonality). Management practices attempt to mimic these natural conditions. Even though northern bobwhites are known as the firebird, most fire-related management is currently based on tradition and limited peer-reviewed literature. We studied habitat selection of northern bobwhites on private property in Georgetown County, South Carolina, USA, managed with fire, winter disking, and supplemental feeding. We radio-tagged 338 individual bobwhites and monitored them 3-4 times weekly via very high frequency (VHF) telemetry for 2 years. We used hierarchical habitat selection functions in a Bayesian framework to model the data. We considered 2 spatial scales: the study site (second-order) and within home ranges (third-order). Bobwhites selected for small burns during the breeding season but had the highest selection for areas intermediately distant from burn edges during winter (i.e., 67 m). Bobwhites had the strongest selection for fire return intervals of 2-3 years during winter but 1-2 years during the breeding season. Use of supplemental feed was strong across seasons but not selected for by brooding birds within their home range. Use of fallow fields was strongest for brooding birds. Our results are useful for bobwhite managers, especially those in subtropical climates, because they provide scientifically defensible information supporting the use of prescribed fire, winter disking, and supplemental feeding in the context of habitat use. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
- Subjects
BOBWHITES; HABITATS; ANIMAL ecology; WILDLIFE management; PINE
- Publication
Journal of Wildlife Management, 2017, Vol 81, Issue 5, p919
- ISSN
0022-541X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/jwmg.21254