Habitat Use and Movements of Female Ring-Necked Pheasants during Fall and Winter

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We studied diurnal habitat use and movements of 56 female ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) on private and public lands in southern Wisconsin [USA] from September through April 1968-71 using radio telemetry. Habitat use of female pheasants was a function of month, year, female age, and snow cover depth, but not female survival through April. Females preferred food patches and brush, and avoided pastures and active croplands in all 7 months. Shrub-carr wetlands were preferred by females in all months except October, and marshes were preferred in all months except January and February. Retired croplands were preferred from October to December, but avoided in January. Upland hardwoods were avoided in most months except for periods of deep snow cover. Monthly home-range sizes averaged 32 ha. Home-range size during 10-day periods peaked in late October through early November, and declined to a low in early January through early February. Juveniles had larger ranges than adults, and preyed-upon females had larger ranges than surviving females. Home-range size was positively related to corn harvesting and pheasant hunting pressure, and negatively related to snow cover depth. Females began a directional move (.hivin.x = 1,150 m) to winter cover in late September. Distance to winter cover was also a function of female age, female fate, corn harvest, and snow cover depth. Heavy hunting pressure appeared to temporarily suppress the use of food patches and strip cover, and accelerate the final move to winter cover, but did not cause females to move off public lands. Females remained in winter cover from early November through early February, using a variety of areas and habitats. The abundance of wetland cover in winter may have been responsible for a lack of winter concentration and independent moves betweens adults and juveniles.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: