Private Lands Habitat Development for Pheasants, Ducks, and Cottontails. Final Report. Project W-160-P;Rept. for 1 Jul 02-30 Jun 03

摘要

Loss of habitat on private agricultural lands has resulted in population declines of many farmland wildlife species. An interagency pilot project was implemented to test the feasibility of increasing ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), duck, and eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) abundance through habitat development on private lands. Nest cover, food plots, winter cover, and semi-permanent wetlands were established or enhanced according to a management plan during 1984-89 on 3 management units. Changes in land use and pheasant, duck, and cottontail rabbit populations were monitored on both management and 3 control units from 1984 to 1993. Due to the efforts of the Dodge County Private Lands Wildlife Project (DCPLWP), a total of 1,307 acres of nest cover was planted or idled through 1989, and an average of 19 food plots was provided annually. Despite these efforts, habitat quantity remained similar in management and control units due to federal agricultural set-aside programs, most significantly the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), that were also available on control units. The improvement of habitat on both management and control units significantly compromised the study design. High quality nest cover increased significantly in all study units from 1984-1993. However, without habitat established through federal programs such as the CRP, the DCPLWP would likely have fallen short of its habitat goals.