MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating 
Glen C. Sanderson and Helen C. Schultz, Editors 
Urbana, Illinois 
June, 1 965 
Vol. 8, No. 6 
1 . Pheasant Popu1 at ions and Land Use 
S. L. Etter 
Pheasant nesting in strip cover and nonagricultural areas has been more 
successful in I 965 than in 1964. Of 55 nests found thus far (June 25) in these two 
cover types, 13 have hatched and 7 more are active, with hens either laying or 
incubating. In 1964, only 11 of 91 nests found in strip cover and nonagricu1tura1 
areas were successful. 
The higher success rate of pheasant nesting in 1965 appears to be the result 
of two factors: a lower rate of nest abandonment and/or predation and later mowing 
of roadsides than in 1964. These factors are probably attributable to above normal 
rainfall during the spring months, which resulted in good quality nesting cover and 
delayed row crop planting and, consequently, the mowing of roadsides. 
2. Manipulation of Pheasant Habitat G. B. Joselyn 
In 1965, the first search for pheasant nests on manipulated and on managed 
control plots along 8 miles of roadway on the Cibley Study Area started on June 15 
and was completed on June 23. Fifty-seven pheasant nests were located on the plots, 
35 on seeded plots and 22 on managed control plots. During the first search (June 
10-1/) in 1964, 85 nests were located, 52 on seeded plots and 33 on managed control 
plots. In 1963, 85 nests were located in three searches of the roadsides, 44 nests 
on seeded plots and 41 on managed control plots. 
By June 30, 1963, nine of the pheasant nests established on seeded plots had 
hatched and one hen was still incubating, compared with four hatched nests and one 
incubating hen on managed control plots (Table 1). As of June 26, 1964, four of 
the pheasant nests established on seeded plots had hatched, and five hens were still 
incubating; on the managed control plots, one nest had hatched and three hens were 
still incubating. By June 26, 1965, eight nests on seeded plots had hatched, and 
four hens were still incubating; on managed control plots two nests had hatched 
and six hens were still incubating. Since the first search of the roadsides in 
1963 was completed on June 5, and the first searches in 1964 and I 965 were completed 
on June 17 and 23, respectively, the 1964 and 1 965 data are not strictly comparable 
with the data from 1 96 3• The data thus far obtained for 1 965 indicate that nest 
densities on both seeded and managed control plots for the year will probably be 
lower than nest densities in 1964. The data also indicate that production of hatched 
nests on seeded plots may possibly be higher in 1 96 5 than in 1964 (14 hatched nests). 
Managed control plots, with two hatched nests and six hens still incubating, may 
also produce more hatched nests than in either 1964 (5 hatched nests) or I 963 (7 
hatched nests). The second and final search for pheasant nests on the roadside plots 
this summer (1965) will be conducted in mid-July. 
