Lh i 
MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating 
Glen C. Sanderson and Helen C. Schultz, Editors 
Urbana, 111inois 
NATURAL HlSlflrtf SuKv’tr 
April, 1970 „ Vol . 13, No. 4 
MAY 7 1970 
1. Pheasant Populations and Land Use LIBRARY $. l. Etter, 
R. E. Greenberg 
In an earlier report (MWRL 9(3): 1) it was pointed out that changes in the age 
ratios of pheasants captured by nightlighting during fall (October and early 
November) and winter (January and February) indicated that the survival of juvenile 
pheasants was considerably lower than that of adults during the interim period. 
Examination of the observation rates of tagged juvenile and adult birds during 
these same 4 years (1962-65) indicated agreement with the conclusions drawn from the 
nightlight data in that the observation rates of tagged juvenile pheasants during 
the winter after capture were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of adults. 
The age ratios of tagged pheasants observed in winter (January through March) and 
spring (April through June) for the years 1962-66, however, were nearly equal and 
failed to show any significant differences. 
These data suggest that the higher mortality rate of juvenile pheasants 
compared with that of adults is confined to the late fall and early winter periods. 
Although cause-and-effeet relationships cannot now be demonstrated, it is tempting 
to speculate that the drastic habitat changes which result from the corn harvest 
and fall plowing are more detrimental to juveniles than to adults. Once this 
critical period has passed, the remaining juvenile pheasants apparently survive 
equally as well as adults. 
2. Manipulation of Pheasant Habitat G. B. Joselyn 
Because of the shortage of rainfall during late summer and fall, 1968, it was 
felt that the success of the roadside seedings on the Ford County Management Unit 
was in jeopardy (MWRL 12(2):1). After a spring with adequate moisture, a check of 
the roadsides during summer 1969 indicated the possibility of better success with 
the seedings than had been anticipated (MWRL 12(7) :1)* 
Accordingly, the Game Division is preparing a letter to be sent to each of the 
cooperating farmers on the area requesting them to refrain from mowing their road¬ 
sides (with the exception of a narrow strip along the outside edge) until on or after 
July 31 , beginning this year. All cooperating farm operators agreed to such an 
arrangement at the time they were contacted by District Biologists prior to the 
establishment of the seedings. However, because of the uncertain status of the 
seedings last year, farmers were notified to mow at their discretion during 1969* 
Sometime in May, signs will be erected on each road entering the 1 6 -square-mile 
area to inform the public about the seedings and why the roadsides are not mowed. 
3* Factors Inf1uencinq Distribution and Abundance of Pheasants W. L. Anderson 
This project was inactive during April. 
