Habitat Use by Breeding Female California Quail in Western Oregon
Publication Type: | Journal Article |
Year of Publication: | 1992 |
Authors: | Kilbride, KM, CRAWFORD, JOHNA, Blakely, KL, Williams, BA |
Journal: | The Journal of Wildlife Management |
Volume: | 56 |
Issue: | 1 |
Date Published: | 1992 |
ISBN Number: | 0022541X |
Keywords: | Callipepla, Callipepla californica, Coturnix, Coturnix coturnix, Odontophoridae, Phasianidae |
Abstract: | We quantified habitat use, nest site selection, and home range sizes of female California quail (Callipepla californica) during the breeding season because the effects of human manipulations on these variables at that time were unknown. We used radio telemetry to monitor 58 hens in western Oregon from May through mid-August in 1988 (n = 31) and in 1989 (n = 27). Hens nested on roadsides more frequently (P = 0.02) than expected relative to availability and used cultivated fields less (P = 0.002) than expected. Nest sites had more (P = 0.02) bare ground and less grass (P = 0.06), shrub (P = 0.04), and vertical cover (50-75 cm) (P = 0.005) than random locations. During 4 phases of the breeding season, mean home range size varied from 4 to 22 ha and was smallest (P = 0.0003) during incubation. Habitat manipulations that promoted key quail foods also may enhance quail productivity by increasing amounts of early successional stages used as nesting cover. |
URL: | http://www.jstor.org/stable/3808794 |
Short Title: | The Journal of Wildlife Management |
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