Phillip D. Doerr

The Effects of Tillage on Shot Concentrations in Dove Fields

SEAFWA Journal Volume 3, March 2016

Despite the research on lead (Pb) shot deposition and ingestion by mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), there has been no research to determine how management practices may be used to effectively reduce Pb shot concentrations in fields managed for dove hunting. For instance, no-till cropping systems could potentially lead to accumulation of lead shot in upper soil layers compared to conventional tillage practices. We measured shot concentrations in five publicly managed mourning dove fields in North Carolina to determine if concentration levels were significantly affected by tillage...

Hunter Use of Publicly Managed Mourning Dove Fields

SEAFWA Journal Volume 1, March 2014

We attempted to quantify hunter use in five publicly managed mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) fields during the 2007 and 2008 dove hunting seasons on Conoho Farms (CF) in Martin County, North Carolina. Self-administered diary surveys (n=845) were mailed to every individual receiving a special hunt (SH) and point-of-sale (PS) permit during both dove hunting seasons on CF. We used the modified Tailored Design method to collect hunter effort and harvest data for each hunting season. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test to determine differences in hunter effort and harvest between...

Reoccupation of Abandoned Clusters of Cavity Trees (Colonies) by Red-cockaded WoodPeCkers

We documented red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) occupation of cavity tree clusters on North Carolina study areas from 1980-88. Most occupied cavity tree clusters (93%) were used in consecutive years, but 6.8% were abandoned each year. Abandoned sites were captured or reoccupied at an annual rate of 8.7%, implying there is a 60% chance that an abandoned site will be reoccupied in a 10-year period. However, recently abandoned clusters were reoccupied at a much higher rate than long-abandoned clusters. Cluster occupation was dynamic with some being occupied, abandoned and reoccupied...

Breeding Biology of the American Woodcock in Piedmont, North Carolina

Woodcock (Scolapax minor) were observed and collected in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, from November 1977 through June 1978 and from November 1978 through March 1979 for studies of their courtship behavior, reproductive physiology, and breeding chronology. Male courtship behavior began in early December and terminated in early June, with February and March having the greatest numbers of singing males. However, individual males spent more time on the singing grounds during March, April, and May. Testicular recrudescence was apparent by early January. Juvenile males produced sperm...

The Relationship Of Understory Vegetation To Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Activity.

The relationship between understory vegetation and actual and potential redcockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) cavities was measured in the North Carolina Sandhills. Understory measurements were made in a 0.01 ha circular quadrat around each of 60 red-cockaded woodpecker cavity trees and 60 randomly selected potential cavity trees. The height, basal area, species, and quarter number of each understory stem were recorded. Red-cockaded woodpeckers on our areas preferred excavating cavities in trees around which there were significantly fewer woody stems and a lower understory basal area...