Pheasant ecology in three landscapes in east-central Illinois

Historically, farming practices in the Midwest created landscapes which were more hospitable to game-bird populations. The loss of fencerows, crop rotation simplification, and extensive roadside mowing have dramatically altered rural landscapes and have been implicated in declines of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). To better understand how to best meet the habitat requirements of pheasants in current landscapes throughout the year, we are studying how landscape composition, configuration, field composition and management, and roadside management interact and influence survival, productivity, and movements of pheasants. This research is conducted on state-owned and private lands in three landscapes in east-central Illinois that differ in the amount and configuration of grasslands as well as roadside management. To address these questions, we are using a combination of hand-tracking and automatic telemetry recorders. Here, we provide preliminary data about seasonal differences in survival and breeding success among landscapes, as well as movement patterns of breeding and non-breeding individuals.