Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Minimum population estimates of Florida grasshopper sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus) made using listening stations systematically located throughout a 2,374-ha portion of the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in central Florida ranged from 219-234 individuals over a 3-year period. The study area was divided into 3 units and 1 was burned each year. Grasshopper sparrow population density was related to the 3 burn regimes: <1 year post-burn, 1-2 years post-burn, and >2 years post-burn. Grasshopper sparrows did not utilize each burn regime in proportion to its occurrence (X2 = 21.86, df = 2, P < 0.001). Grasshopper sparrows preferred areas <1 year post-burn, avoided areas >2 years post-burn, and used the intermediate burn regime in proportion to its occurrence (P < 0.01). Grasshopper sparrows did not colonize areas of apparently suitable habitat that were spatially separated from the population by areas of unsuitable habitat.

Public interest in viewing emergences of bats has increased in recent years, and possible disruption by visitors of emergence time of colonies has become a concern for wildlife biologists. Consequently, the objectives of this study were to assess the influence of visitors on time of emergence and flight behavior of a colony of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana). In summer 1992, we studied dynamics of the bat colony at the Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area near Fredericksburg, Kendall County, Texas. Data were not recorded until the start of a continuous flight of bats emerged from the tunnel. We compared times of emergence of the colony with sunset and flight behavior relative to the presence or absence of visitors. A regression comparing the number of visitors and time of emergence with sunset indicated a 3% variation in time of emergence was attributed to number of visitors.

Dredge islands are an important but relatively unstudied habitat for seabirds on the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. We characterized nest sites of Forster's terns (Sterna forsteri), least terns (S. antillarum), gull-billed terns (S. nilotica) and black skimmers (Rynchops niger) on dredge islands in the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area in Louisiana. With the exception of the least tern, seabird use of the islands has increased over the last 5 years. Generally, dredge islands were used only during the first nesting season following their creation. Forster's terns nested on clumps of dead water hycacinth (Eichornia crassipes); nest sites of the other 3 species were relatively devoid of dead vegetation. Both least and gull-billed terns nested on substrates that contained shell while avoiding nearby patches of sand.

From 1982 through 1994, 1,086 brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) pre-fledglings were banded with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service aluminum bands in a spoil island nesting colony in St. Andrews Bay, Bay County, Florida. The colony was newly established the year banding was initiated and at the time constituted the only nesting colony on the Florida panhandle Gulf coast, with the nearest colonies being 250 km to the west in Louisiana and 165 km to the east near Cedar Key, Levy County, Florida. Excluding band recoveries from birds < 1 year old (N = 24) from the immediate vicinity of the colony, 49 bands were recovered. Banded birds had dispersed both westerly/southwesterly (N = 20, longest distance: the Republic of Panama) and easterly/southeasterly (N = 27, longest distance: Cuba), with no apparent preferential pattern either way. Two of the returns were from >1-year-old birds from the vicinity of the colony, perhaps indicating some degree of site fidelity.

A field study was undertaken to: 1) determine if a large number of freeranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) could be marked with tetracycline hydrochloride (THC), and, if successful, 2) assess use of supplemental feed by deer. Shelled corn treated with THC (approximately 300 mg/0.45 kg) was distributed (18 Jul-3 Aug 1992) on a commercial hunting club in South Carolina that supplementally fed white-tailed deer. Mandibles collected from 784 hunterharvested deer (15 Aug 1992-1 Jan 1993) were evaluated for THC marks. Of those, 67.8% from the club where treated corn was deposited and 29.4% taken on surrounding properties were marked. Marked deer were found throughout the area studied (i.e., up to 5.43 km from nearest treatment site). The recovery of marked deer on and off the hunting club suggested that deer "exchange" occurred.

Use of fertilized Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) by whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was examined by a marked-plant and twig procedure to assess the potential for utilizing naturally-occurring foods that have been enhanced by fertilization in deer management. We conducted the study on the Milan Army Ammunition Plant in Gibson and Carroll counties, Tennessee. Twenty transects were established in August 1992 and were examined ca. every 3 weeks until March 1994. Percent frequency of browse by deer was different (P = 0.0001) among all seasons (n = 7). Browse percentages were lowest during the summer, increased during fall, and peaked during winter for all transects. Ten transects were randomly selected and fertilized in spring 1993 to determine if fertilization increased deer use of honeysuckle. Browsing of fertilized and non-fertilized transects within each season was not different (P ≤ 0.05) except for winter 1994 (X2 = 7.330, P = 0.0068).

In many areas, hunting season coincides with rut, and movements associated with breeding activities may confound interpretation of hunting-related deer movements. This study provided an opportunity to evaluate the respective influences of separate rut and hunting seasons on home range sizes of adult male deer. Home ranges of 54 radio-collared male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were compared between Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP; hunted) and Everglades National Park (ENP; non-hunted), Florida, during 1989-1991. Annual home range size of males was larger (P = 0.001) in BCNP (7.0 km2) than in ENP (2.9 km2) and exceeded those reported for other non-migratory populations. Home ranges of adult males in BCNP were larger (P < 0.05) than those in ENP for 2 6- month hydrological and 4 3-month biological seasons.

In the southeastern United States, supplemental plantings often are used to increase forage availability and quality. We evaluated production and utilization by white-tailed deer {Odocoileus virginianus) of 3 warm-season and 8 cool-season agricultural forages in Madison, Morgan, and Putnam counties, Georgia. Eight 0.1-ha food plots were planted with cool-season forages at 3 locations in October 1991. Three warm-season forage species were planted at 3 locations in May 1992. Forage production and utilization were measured every 29 ± 3 days. Aeschynomene (Aeschynomene americana) and alyceclover (Alysicarpus vaginalis) were productive and highly utilized warm-season forages. Among cool-season forages, wheat had the highest monthly production from January through April. Ladino clover {Trifolium repens) had the highest monthly production and utilization from May through December. All forages except small burnet (Sanguisorba minor) maintained crude protein levels exceeding 16%.

A better understanding of population dynamics leads to more informed wildlife management decisions. Investigations of mortality rates and their causes for maturing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are lacking in the Coastal Plain of the Southeast. We captured 36 (18 male and 18 female) fawns with rocket nets and radio-collared them on Westvaco's North Whitener tract in Jasper County, South Carolina, from October through December 1992. We radio-tracked these deer during the 1993 calendar year to investigate mortality rates in a coastal area under a quality deer management program. Calendar year mortality rates, estimated with the Kaplan-Meier product limit method, were 0.389 (SE = 0.115) for females and 0.410 (SE = 0.119) for males. Sex-specific survival functions did not differ within the year (P = 0.906) or within either age-period analyzed (fawn period, 1 Jan-31 May, P = 0.300; yearling period, 1 Jun-31 Dec, P = 0.229).

Population estimates of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) based on marking individuals and resighting them at later times require assumptions about observability that are rarely verified. Yet the accuracy of estimates depends on meeting the assumptions. At Remington Farms on the eastern shore of Maryland, we tested accuracy of mark-resight population estimates from the heterogeneity model (Mh) of the CAPTURE program against a known abundance of a marked subpopulation of the herd. We also tested the assumption of heterogeneous capture probabilities. We conducted evening road counts to resight animals marked with collars and used radio-telemetry observations to estimate sightability of individual animals. Estimates of observability were biased high, and concomitant population estimates were biased low by between 25% to 35%. Estimates determined from radio telemetry of the observabilities of different individuals ranged from 0.04 to 0.45, an 11-fold difference.

We conducted this study to determine efficiency of archery equipment in conjunction with tracking dogs for harvesting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on Medway Plantation in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Twentytwo experienced archers hunting from elevated stands over corn feeders shot 61 deer. A tracking dog was used whenever deer did not fall within sight of the hunter (41 of the 61 deer shot). Immediately following each hunt, the hunter completed a questionnaire to determine equipment used, shot conditions, and deer reaction. We recovered 60 of the 61 deer shot (98%) within 24 hours of being hit. Comparison of shot situation variables (draw weight, deer activity, alertness, reaction, position, number of deer present, arrow penetration, and number of broadhead blades) with shot placement and distance traveled after the shot revealed few significant associations.

Wildlife researchers often assume capturing and marking do not influence marked animals' behavior, but this assumption is seldom tested. Therefore, we investigated effects of capture on reproductive success of eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in east-central Mississippi. Hens were captured by cannon net, wing-tagged, radio-marked, and released between January and March 1990-1993. Marked and unmarked hens were observed at July and August bait sites 1990-1993; those observed with ≥ 1 poult were classified as reproductively successful. Hens captured during January-March, prior to the reproductive period, were less likely to be reproductively successful than either unmarked hens (P = 0.009) or hens captured in previous years (P = 0.048). We concluded that some factor in the capture process affects turkey reproduction in year of capture, but that this effect diminishes over time.

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 (Procyon lotor) the leading cause of mortality.

A population of eastern wild turkeys {Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) was studied in the lower coastal plain of South Carolina to determine if intensively managed short-rotation pine plantations have a detrimental effect on reproductive success. Reproductive parameters including nesting chronology, nest success, hen success, clutch size, and hatchability were estimated from 50 radio-instrumented hens monitored during 1988-1990. Predation during nesting and brooding periods was the major cause of nest and adult hen losses (55%). However, illegal kills were as high (45%). Median dates for incubation initiation and hatching were 8 May and 3 June, respectively. Nest success (% hatched ≥1 egg) was 57.9%. Proportion of hens in the population expected to produce poults was 50%. Clutches averaged 9.8 eggs with 82% hatchability. Number of poults produced/hen averaged 4.0. Nest sites were located in all stand types in proportion to their availability.

Many pine (Pinus spp.) and pine-hardwood forests in the Southeast have been, and are being, converted to short-rotation (35 years) even-aged pine plantations. Effects of forest type conversion on wild turkey reproductive parameters have not been documented. Therefore, we compared reproductive performance of eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in central Mississippi between a forest system dominated by short rotation loblolly {P. taeda) pine plantations (Kemper County) and Tallahala Wildlife Management Area (TWMA), a more "natural" forest system managed by the U.S. Forest Service, during 1987-1994. TWMA experienced higher nest and renest initiation rates. Kemper County had higher initial nest success rates. Mean clutch size was higher on TWMA than on Kemper County, but total productivity did not differ.

To determine effects of land use and management practices on wild turkey {Meleagris gallapovo) populations, managers need reliable, low-cost methods to estimate absolute and relative densities. Therefore, we evaluated estimation ability of 4 models using wild turkey capture data from 1986-1993 and summer bait site observations from 1990-1993 in Kemper County, Mississippi. Capture-markrecapture models performed worse (i.e., higher coefficients of variance) than capture-mark-resight models. Estimates from 1 resighting model were biased from non-homogenous capture probabilities in most intervals (4 of 6) for both sexes. Estimates from a second resighting model required restriction of marked population to active radio-equipped hens. This model performed well in 1990 and 1991, but likely overestimated population size in 1992 and 1993 when marked/sighted samples were only 9 and 4 individuals. A 3-stage resighting-based sampling design was suggested for turkey census.

Disease eliminated American chestnut (Catenea dentata), mast production from most North America forests before objective data could be collected on its use by wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). This study evaluated wild turkey use of American chestnut, chestnut hybrids, and other selected hard mast. Feeding responses of free-ranging wild turkeys to American and Chinese chestnuts was compared to 22 other mast species during winters 1993 and 1994. Turkeys were presented measured amounts of mast during 20 feeding trials. Chestnuts were readily accepted as a food. There were no differences (P = 0.0001) in preferences for 11 oak species, 4 pine species, and small Chinese chestnuts. Turkeys showed no preference (P = 0.0001) among 5 diameter classes of Chinese chestnuts presented alone, selected (P = 0.0001) corn, American chestnuts, and chinkapins, over chestnut cultivars and selected (P = 0.0001) corn, American chestnuts, red oak and white oak to Chinese chestnuts.

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 other potential brood habitats. Fallow field management for bobwhite brood habitat is discussed.

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations have declined on a continental scale. One factor implicated in the decline is habitat loss through agricultural modernization. To better understand the relationship between northern bobwhite and modern farming, and to examine farm habitat improvement methods, we monitored bobwhite (N = 218) from April to September 1993 and 1994 on two study areas, western (WSA) and eastern (ESA), each divided into one filter strip (FS) (treatment) and one non-filter strip (NFS) (reference) section on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge's farming units in Dare County, North Carolina. Filter strips were 9.4 m wide planted and natural vegetation buffer zones surrounding drainage-ditches in crop fields. Using radio-telemetry, we followed bobwhite, identified nest incubations and hatchings, and monitored hatched broods.

Potential dietary differences between adult female and male northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) during the breeding season may influence habitat use and thus require special habitat management. The bobwhite literature contains only meager quantitative information, and no statistical evaluation, of adult female and male bobwhite diets during the breeding season. Therefore, we collected bobwhites and quantified their food use to test the null hypothesis that diets of male and female bobwhites were similar during the breeding season. In 41 female and 47 male bobwhites collected in eastern Mississippi from April-September 1968-1978, we found that females consumed greater (P <0.001) numbers and biomass of animal matter (primarily arthropods and snails) than males. There was no difference (P >0.05) between the sexes in number or biomass of plant material in the diet. Animal foods may play an important, and previously overlooked role in the diet of breeding bobwhites.

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)-dominated fields provide poor northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) brood rearing habitat. Burning, disking, and herbicide applications have been recommended to improve bobwhite habitat within fescue-dominated fields. We implemented fall burning, fall disking, spring burning, spring disking, spring herbicide application, summer burning, and summer disking in fescue-dominated fields on 4 wildlife management areas across Kentucky. We sampled invertebrate populations and vegetative structure in summers 1992 and 1993 to determine if bobwhite brood rearing habitat quality was improved. We considered forb-dominated fields with high plant species richness, high invertebrate populations, and sufficient bare ground as providing the best brood rearing habitat. Fall disked plots provided significantly greater invertebrate abundance (¯x = 2199.4 ± 331.5; p ≤ 0.05) than control plots (¯x = 824.0 ± 264.5) in 1992.

Depredation to crops and livestock by coyotes (Canis latrans) is a subject of much concern to agricultural producers in Alabama. This concern suggested a need for an efficient mechanism for producers experiencing perceived coyote damage to report losses. We tested a combination self-reporting/field verification technique to determine proportion of coyote damage complaints actually attributable to coyotes, determine species responsible for reported coyote damage, and collect descriptive data on coyote damage in Alabama. A toll-free telephone hotline was established, and calls concerning coyote damage were received from June 1992 to September 1993. Two hundred and sixty-three calls (214 livestock, 49 crop) resulted in only 44 field investigations. This technique of self-reporting/field verification did not prove effective as a data collection method to assess coyote damage.

The mountain lion (Felis concolor) is legally classified as a nongame mammal in Texas within the broad scope of wildlife regulatory authority delegated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Lions are not subject to any specific protective regulations; however, mountain lions are recognized as an important part of the native fauna of Texas. The Department is currently collecting mortality and sighting data by ecological region to determine current distribution and population status of Texas lions. Sighting data are reported by county with the date, number and estimated age of lions, and location. Mortality data includes the above information plus weight, length, and reason for death. Over 1,500 mortalities and 1,400 sightings were reported from 1983 to 1994. Sightings were recorded in all ten ecological regions and mortalities in all ecological regions except the Blackland Prairies and Post Oak Savannah.

Reproduction, mortality rates, dispersal, and survival of young lions are among the most basic factors affecting lion populations. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) initiated a research study to investigate home ranges, population dynamics, genetic variability, and diets. We captured 19 mountain lions (Felis concolor) on Big Bend Ranch State Park (BBRSP) 22 January 1993 through 9 March 1995, using trained hounds or leg-hold snares. All captured lions were examined, aged and sexed, and a series of body measurements were recorded. Two lions— 1 adult female and 1 subadult male—died during capture. A subadult male orphaned as a kitten and sent to a wildlife rehabilitor was returned to the study area, but was later killed off the study area. Fifteen lions—5 adult females, 1 subadult female, 7 adult males and 2 subadult males—were fitted with radio transmitters. Three of the collared lions—1 adult female and 2 adult males—were killed north of the study area.

Black bear populations of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) are threatened by continuing habitat destruction, necessitating development of techniques to monitor population trends. Bait station surveys have proven successful for monitoring other southeastern bear populations. We conducted experimental bait station surveys during May-August 1992 and 1993 to evaluate effect of bait type (fish, sardines, meat), sampling duration (4 and 8 days), and sampling month on bait station visitation rates by black bears. In 1992 and 1993, visitation rates by black bears were 11.4% and 27.2%, respectively. Highest visitation rates occurred using fish bait in August with an 8-night sampling period. We recommend conducting MAV bait station surveys in August using fish bait. Bait stations should be conducted annually where visitation rates allow monitoring of population trends and every 3-5 years in low bear density areas to provide baseline distributional information.