MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating 
T. G. Scott, Editor 
Urbana, Illinois August, 1961 Vole 4, No. 8 
1. Pheasant Populations and Land Use R. F. Labisky, S. H. Mann 
The standardized counts of pheasant broods taken on the Sibley area during 
July and August, 1961, revealed the highest number of broods recorded during the 
past 5 years, the period of time for which comparable data exist. The number of 
broods observed along 640 miles of roadside transect (2, 40-mile routes driven 
weekly) increased from 235 broods in 1960 to 235 broods in 1961, or 21.3 per 
cent. Comparable counts for 1957, 1958, and jl959 were 194, 240, and 198 broods, 
respectively. 
The number of adult pheasant hens observed during July and August along 
these same 640 miles of roadside increased from 348 hens in 1960 to 478 hens in 
1961, or 37,4 per cent, indicating a substantial increase in the population of 
breeding hens in 1961. A total of 38.2 per cent of the adult hens observed in 
1960 were broodless compared to 43.5 per cent in 1961, a proportional 13.9 per 
cent increase in the number of broodless hens observed in 1961, thus reflecting 
slightly poorer nesting success. By combining the 21.3 per cent increase in 
the number of broods, representing brood hens, and the 13.9 per cent increase 
in the proportion of broodless hens, 34.2 per cent of the 37.4 per cent increase 
in the 1961 population of breeding hens can be accounted for with respect to 
annual productivity. 
2. Manipulation of Pheasant Habitat 
Project inactive in August. 
3. Extension of Pheasant Range J. A, Ellis, W, L. Anderson, J, Harper 
Curing August, 40 adult pheasants C19 cocks and 21 hens) were observed on 
the Neoga study area. Thirty-two (80.0 per cent) were birds that were produced 
on the area in 1960 ("native" pheasants), and eight (20.0 per cent) were wild- 
transplanted pheasants that were released during the past winter. None of the 
"California" pheasants released during the past winter have been observed since 
June 5. 
Brood production was lower in 1961 than in i960, but productivity was high¬ 
er. The number of broods produced during each year was estimated by subtract¬ 
ing the known hen mortality during the nesting season from the estimated number 
of hens present at the onset of the breeding season and multiplying by the per 
cent of hens accompanied by broods during July and August. An estimated 128 
broods were produced in 1960 and 105 in 1961. These data suggest that brood 
NATURAE 
HISTORY SURVEY 
