2. Manipulation of Pheasant Habitat 
Vol. 6, No. 12 
Page 2 
G< B. Joselyn 
Statistical analysis indicated that pheasant broods utilized seeded roadside 
plots to a significantly greater extent than control roadside plots during 1962; 
91 percent of the 140 broods observed on the road right-of-way occurred in or 
opposite seeded plots. It was suggested (see Monthly Wildlife Research Letter, 
August, 1962) that the seeded plots may have surpassed the control plots in attrac¬ 
tion for broods because (1) the nurse crop of oats with associated grass-legume 
seedlings provided denser cover than was afforded by the natural cover in control 
plots, and (2) the seedlings attracted large populations of insects which probably 
provided abundant food. 
During I 963 , only 68 percent of the 56 broods observed along the road right-of- 
way were in or opposite seeded plots; statistical tests indicated no significant 
difference between brood utilization of seeded and of control plots (Chi-square 
value = 3-81 with 2 df). The change in the vegetative dominants of the seeded 
plots from oats (1962) to grasses and legumes ( 1963 ) could have been responsible 
for the decreased brood utilization of these plots in 1963* 
3* Factors Influencing the Distribution and Abundance of Pheasa nts 
W. L. Anderson, S. L. Wunderle 
It is estimated that 585 pheasant chicks were hatched on the Neoga Area during 
1963 . This estimate was calculated from the total number of individual broods ( 65 ) 
observed on the area and the average number of eggs (9) hatched per successful 
nest. Thus, the average number of chicks produced per hen was 2.6 in 1 963 ^ when 
based on a spring population of 226 adult hens. In 1962, 151 hens produced an 
estimated number of 865 chicks, an average of 5*7 chicks per hen. In 1 963 > the 
number of chicks produced declined }2 percent and the number of chicks per hen de¬ 
clined about 55 percent, as compared with 1962. 
A ratio of 5«5 chicks (40 broods) per hen was observed on the Neoga Area in 
July and August of 1 963 ^ compared with 7»2 chicks (38 broods) per hen during the 
same period in 1962 (a 24 percent decline). On the Sibley Study Area, in July and 
August of 1962 and 1 963 ^ ratios of 5*6 chicks (110 broods) and 4.5 chicks per hen 
(74 broods), respectively, were observed from broods where only complete counts of 
chicks were obtained. These findings suggest that the number of chicks produced 
per hen on the Neoga Area in 1 963 was comparable to that found in the established 
pheasant range in Illinois. 
4. Responses of Bobwhites and P rairie Chickens to Habitat Ma nipu1 at ion 
J. A. Ellis, R. J. Ellis 
One hundred thirty bobwhites were captured by night1ighting on the Bogota, 
Marion County, and Wayne County study areas during the fall of 1963* Twenty-nine 
quail were trapped at Bogota, 56 at Marion County, and 45 on the Wayne County area. 
The age ratio of the captured quail was 4.41 juveniles per adult, or 18.5 percent 
adults in the sample. Sex ratios among the captured birds favored males slightly 
in both age groups. There were 13 males and 11 females among the adults, and 55 
males and 46 females among the juveniles. The sex of five of the juveniles could 
not be determined. 
Mean weight of the adult quail was 194.8 grams; the mean weight of the males, 
19S»2 grams, was greater than the mean weight of the females, 1 87 -8 grams. Mean 
weight of the juveniles was I 67 .I grams; the males averaged 166.4 grams and the 
females 168.0 grams. 
