Impacts of Predators on Northern Bobwhites in the Southeast

Authors

John P. Carroll, University of GeorgiaFollow
Susan N. Ellis-Felege, University of Georgia
William E. Palmer, Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy

Date of this Version

2007

Citation

Transactions of the 72nd North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.

Abstract

The northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) is an important game bird that is intensively managed for hunting recreation in the southeastern United States. Despite interest regionwide, populations have been declining for much of the last 40 years (Brennan 1999). Population declines in the Southeast have occurred as a result of widespread habitat loss associated with land-use changes (Brennan 1999). These land-use changes include both conversion from agricultural to forest landscapes and changes in forest management practices, which result in dense forest canopies that shade required ground vegetation (Brennan 1999, Rollins and Carroll 2001). In addition, low-quality habitats may predispose bobwhites to high rates of predation, resulting in accelerated rates of population decline (Rollins 1999, Rollins and Carroll 2001, Cook 2004).