D. C. Sisson

Providing habitat to recruit young into a population with high rates of annual turnover is vital if stable populations are to be maintained. We studied habitat selection using radio-tagged northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) with broods ≤ 2 weeks old on 2 intensively managed quail hunting plantations in southwest Georgia from 1992 to 1994. Habitat selectivity was analyzed using 1,443 locations from 75 broods. Fifty-eight of the 75 broods preferred fallow fields with use greater than expected (P ≤ 0.05). Insect abundance in fallow fields was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater than in...

Identification of poult mortality agents and associated rates are critical to management of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris), particularly in coastal plain pine forests where reported mortality rates are greater than those documented in other environments. We studied rates and specific causes of mortality for wild turkey poults in south Georgia and north Florida from 1988-1993. During the period, 34 of 344 poults from 39 broods survived to 28 days post hatch and yearly mortality rates averaged 90.8% ± 1.8. Predation accounted for 88% of the 106 identified deaths with raccoons...

Some land managers think that the effects of increasing numbers of deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on habitat have been a factor in the long-term decline of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations in the Southeast. We studied effects of deer browsing of selected quail foods in northern Florida on an area managed for quail and supporting a population of about 40 deer/km2. Periodic observations of permanently tagged plants indicated use of some taxa by deer, especially in early autumn. In sample quadrats from which deer were excluded, seed production was greater for partridge peas...