Vo 1. 9, No. 11 
Page 2 
Table 1. Establishment rates (nests per acre) of pheasant nests on three types of 
roadside plots and in seven cover types, Sibley Study Area, 1963-66. 
Nests per 
Acre 
1963 
1964 
1965 
1966 
1963-66 
Seeded Roadsides 
2.8 
3.8 
2.6 
2.9 
3-0 
Managed Control Roadsides 
2.8 
2.2 
1.7 
1.7 
2.0 
Unmanaged Control Roadsides 
1.5 
1.7 
1 . 6 
1*3 
1.5 
Strip Cover 
1-5 
2.2 
1 . 1 
1.3 
1.7 
Unharvested Tame Hay 
3*2 
2.3 
1.0 
0.3 
1.7 
Harvested Tame Hay 
3.1 
1.9 
1.4 
0.3 
1.6 
Pastures 
1 . 1 
0.5 
0.2 
0.5 
0.7 
Sma11 G rains 
0.4 
0.6 
0. 1 
0 . 1 
0.3 
Nonagricultural 
0.3 
0.2 
0 . 1 
0.2 
0.2 
Row Crops* 
0 . 1 
0 . 1 
0.0 
- 
- 
* Row crops were not searched 
in 1966 . 
A11 nests 
located 
in this cover 
type during 
1963 and 1964 were in soybeans. 
3 . Factors Inf1uencinq Distribution and Abundance of Pheasants W. L. Anderson 
The assimilation of data collected during a 7-month period in 1 966 has revealec 
some interesting aspects of the seasonal dynamics of body reserves in hen pheasants 
(Table 2). Hens gain weight rapidly during late winter, achieving their heaviest 
weight immediately preceding the laying period. After laying begins, they steadily 
lose weight throughout the laying and incubating periods, and during the early 
stages of the brooding period. It apparently is during this latter period that the 
hens* body reserves are at their lowest ebb. Weights of muscles and of fat deposits 
which serve as indices of the abundance of protein and fat reserves--f1uctuated in 
synchrony with changes in body weight. Thus, both protein and fat reserves are 
mobilized by hen pheasants during the laying, incubating, and brooding periods. 
4. Responses of Bobwhites to Habitat Hanipulat ion J. A. Ellis 
The results of the prehunt censuses of quail on the Dale and Forbes areas in 
1966 produced population estimates higher than the prehunt estimates obtained in 
1964 and 1965 (Table 3)* More quail (327) were found on the Dale Area this fall 
than during any of the preceding 3 years. The prehunt estimate for 1 966 exceeded 
the prehunt estimate for 1965 by 6 l percent. The fall population on Forbes in 1466 
(314) was exceeded only by the fall population in 1 963 (349)* The prehunt estimate 
for Forbes in 1 966 was 52 percent higher than the prehunt estimate in 1965* 
Quail population densities on both Dale and Forbes in 1966 were higher than in 
any year ( 1963 - 66 ) except 1963* Management practices for quail and rabbits were 
initiated in 1 962 on Dale and in 1 963 on Forbes. 
Tne increases in population from spring to fall (summer gain), 567 percent on 
Dale and 648 percent on Forbes, were indicative of phenomenal reproductive success 
on both areas. On Forbes, for example, the prebreeding population in 1 966 was 42 
