Over the past 14 years we have witnessed 3 quail population “peaks” in the Red Hills, one in 1996-97, one in 2001-02 and most recently last year during the 2010-11 season. If the 2010-11 hunting season was the actual peak of populations remains unknown at this time. However, in between these peaks there must be a valley! We witnessed a short period of increased avian predation during March, but survival has been relatively good since that time. Carry-over of birds from the previous season is good, leaving ample birds for breeding. At this point, indicators suggest that the 2011-2012 hunting season will be a good one, but the prediction of drought is of concern.
Our long-term research paints a clear picture that during post-peak years, and drought years, nest predation management and supplemental feeding are more important than during the increasing phases of the quail populations. In fact, during years with drought, or below average rainfall, supplemental feeding increases chick production by as much as double, which is what we saw in 1998 and 2007. So, maintaining a well-designed feeding program is a wise investment in your quail population this year.
Supplemental feeding ensures constant food supplies during late winter and helps increase early nesting by quail. The dissected quail , at left , shows the higher fat content of a bird captured on a fed area, than a bird from an unfed area, at right.
The large drops in bobwhite populations in the Red Hills have primarily been a result of lower adult and chick survival, which is a function of many factors, such as buffer prey (songbirds, cotton rats, mice and other rodents), burning practices, and weather conditions. When survival rates of quail are normal or above normal, nesting success is not all that important a demographic variable (within reason); even if a nest fails, and most hens are still alive and able to re-nest, they can ultimately bring off a brood. When adult survival is lowered due to increased predation, for instance, each nest becomes more important to fall population density because, on average, hens may not survive long enough to re-nest. We are anticipating a decline in adult survival either this year or next and will continue to report on that in future E-News issues. However to be safe, spending some effort to reduce the number of nest predators is likely to be important this year. On Tall Timbers, where we have not trapped predators since 2006, our predator index was at an all time high, suggesting that regional populations of nest predators are on the upswing.
So, while timber management and burning frequency and pattern remain the most important aspects of bobwhite management, supplemental feeding and nest predator management help to increase populations over time. While they may not forestall a decline, they do help keep the ebbs in quail populations higher than they would be. Reducing the rate of decline not only maintains higher fall populations, but helps recover quail numbers more quickly on the upswings. If you would like us to review your feeding program or your nest predator management program, or any other management aspect please give us a call: 850.893.4153, x226.
Thanks to a grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Vertebrate Ecology Program recently completed genetic sampling of the brown-headed nuthatch population on Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in southwest Florida. Babcock-Webb supports one of the largest expanses of nuthatch habitat remaining south of Orlando, but the nuthatch population is isolated from other neighboring populations, so genetic information will help to determine whether genetic variation within this population has changed as a result of its isolation. Tall Timbers’ staff has developed some impressively efficient netting procedures for this bird that normally spends most of its time high up in the canopy — 35 individuals were netted in only 2.5 days of work!
Jim Cox holds a young nuthatch netted on the Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area.
Vertebrate Ecology has initiated new breeding bird counts on Arcadia Plantation that are similar to the counts conducted on Tall Timbers for six years. The expanded work on Arcadia provides a chance to compare subtle differences in the breeding bird communities associated with old-field pinelands on Tall Timbers versus the more extensive area of longleaf pine and native ground cover on Arcadia. The most common bird observed on Arcadia is Bachman’s Sparrow (2.3 individuals per count), which checks in as the eighth most common bird on Tall Timbers (1.6 individuals per count). On the other hand, Northern Cardinal is the most common bird observed on Tall Timbers (2.1 per count) and checks in as the fourth most common bird on Arcadia (1.3 per count). Cardinals are more common on Tall Timbers because of their preference for brushier ground cover. Counts on Tall Timbers also show continued declines for several neotropical migrants that once occurred more regularly on the property (Kentucky Warbler, Wood Thrush, and Louisiana Waterthrush).
Finally, new methods for measuring Bachman’s Sparrow breeding-season productivity are being assessed on the Wade Tract. Young sparrows give distinctive call notes that can be used to estimate the number of young per unit area, just as easily as counts of singing males often are used to estimate the abundance of adults. We are comparing efficient line transect procedures with two more intensive forms of plot-based surveys in hopes of recommending some simple field procedures for measuring productivity for this declining species. Productivity may be a key measure of habitat quality in this species, because other data suggest that well over half the singing males never secure mates.
A third native forest community to consider — shortleaf pine/oak/hickory with its native groundcover
By Dr. Kevin Robertson, Fire Ecology Scientist
Traditionally in the Red Hills region of northern Florida and southern Georgia, frequently burned and thinned pine forests and their groundcover of herbs and shrubs have been categorized as longleaf pine/wiregrass (native) or loblolly/shortleaf pine old-field (post-agriculture) communities. However, certain forests in the region are dominated by shortleaf pine and have no wiregrass, yet they contain many plant species that usually do not become re-established in old-field forests (goat’s rue, bracken fern, running oak, twin-flower, and several others). These forests are similar to native forests in the Piedmont region and in parts of Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
We hypothesized that this third community type represents a native community type referred to in other regions as shortleaf pine-oak-hickory. We compared groundcover plant species composition in 100 square meter plots, tree species composition in 20 meter radius circular plots (1256 m2), and soil characteristics at more than 20 locations in each of the three community types on Tall Timbers Research Station (Florida) and Pebble Hill Plantation (Georgia). Multivariate analysis ((NMS), see scatter plot graph below) showed the three community types to be distinct in their species composition.
Results from Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) multivariate analysis of 100 m2 plots. Proximity of symbols indicates similarity in species composition and color represents community type, where green is longleaf pine-wiregrass, blue is shortleaf pine-oak-hickory, and red is old-field pine.
Of the total 225 plant species identified, indicator species analysis identified 54 species significantly associated with longleaf pine-wiregrass, 15 species associated with shortleaf pine-oak-hickory, and 25 species associated with old-field community types. Longleaf pine-wiregrass and shortleaf pine-oak-hickory communities showed greater depth of the topsoil than old-field communities, suggesting less of the erosion typically associated with old-field communities. Shortleaf pine-oak-hickory forests also had the highest concentrations of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and manganese of the three community types, which may partly explain the difference in species. These results are consistent with our hypothesis, suggesting that native shortleaf pine/oak/hickory forests should be recognized according to their indicator species and protected from further soil disturbance and conversion to other land uses.
Longleaf pine cone prospects for this fall – well there is always next year
By Dr. Ron Masters, Director of Research
The forecasts for longleaf cone crops are now out for 2011 and 2012. The crop for the Red Hills area is slightly better than last year but still is very poor for this fall, based on cone production from Tall Timbers and the closest sampling areas. Tall Timbers’ cone crop was one of the lowest recorded this year. Across the broader Coastal Plain the longleaf cone crop is rated a high fair. However, there is a lot of variation in cone counts in north Florida and in south Georgia, so your property might have better potential than our sampling. Given the natural variability of longleaf cone production, we would expect that a few areas in the Red Hills might have fair to good production. The likely crop in 2012 will be fair, based on the number of flowers this past spring. However predictions from flowers are not as reliable as cone counts. Often fewer than half will survive to become conelets the following year, as in our case at Tall Timbers this year.
Cone crop estimates from Tall Timbers (7 cones/tree) are well below the southeast regional average (48 cones/tree) for longleaf, and will not provide adequate seed to meet regeneration needs this year (Figure 1). Although some longleaf seed is generally produced each year even in poor years, the seed is highly sought after by quail and other ground foraging birds, as well as small mammals and turkey, because of its excellent nutritional quality. Typically an average of 30 cones/tree, with at least 25 mature (14-16 inch dbh) cone producing trees per acre, is considered to be the minimum requirement for successful regeneration of longleaf. The 46-year regional average is 28 cones/tree. Since 1983, the cone crop has generally been increasing across the region.
Figure 1. A comparison of longleaf cone counts on Tall Timbers (Red Hills) and averaged across the southeast region from Louisiana to North Carolina in 2010 and 2011.
This data is compiled and reported every year by Dr. Dale Brockway, Southern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service stationed in Auburn, AL. The survey samples sites from Louisiana to North Carolina and includes samples from a longleaf area on Tall Timbers Research Station. Each year binocular counts of conelets and flowers are made on 10 selected tree crowns from a single ground location at each of the cooperating sample sites. This long-term data is extremely beneficial as it gives us an understanding of the natural variability in longleaf seed crops across the region, and what we might expect locally for future planning of regeneration in relation to stand management.
Eric Staller, Natural Resources Coordinator, counting longleaf cones on Tall Timbers to determine seed crop for this fall.
Be sure to check the cone crop on your property and specifically in the stands where you may be seeking to develop regeneration. Longleaf cones are large and conspicuous so it is not exactly ‘rocket science’ to get an indication of the cone crop on your trees and in your stands. We recommend that you use this report as a prompt to go take a look at your stands. In years like this, you may want to consider planting containerized seedlings to achieve your regeneration needs, if they are pressing. Or you might consider banking whatever regeneration you get and waiting until next year to do your site preparation.
Despite severe dry weather and temperatures flirting with 100 degrees, quail nesting rate on Tall Timbers is similar to last year’s statistics. Current nesting statistics show 0.36 nests per hen versus 0.32 for hens last year. Adult survival since the beginning of the nesting season is actually higher this spring on Tall Timbers, currently at 81%, versus 72% last spring. High survival of adults bodes well for a strong mid to late season hatch as drought conditions begin to moderate. We have had just enough thundershowers to adequate provide cover areas burned in early March and later burns are now starting to recover adequate ground cover. While still early, brood captures have demonstrated normal chick survival rate, which is critical to producing high fall populations.
One statistic that is off this year a bit is early male nest incubation. On Tall Timbers, male contribution to the hatch can be as high 40%, but this year only one male has incubated a nest thus far. Managers report seeing a few broods around, but we expect the rate at which broods are seen to increase by the end of June and early July. Some managers are concerned that this year’s hatch is behind last years. The combination of a large number of birds entering the nesting season, the slow recovery of habitat in burned areas (especially late burns), and dry hot conditions may all be contributing to this feeling. However, statistics from our radio-tagged sample show reproduction is basically on track again this year.
Game bird technician, Jonathan Garrow, is documenting recent vegetation conditions during the drought. Monthly vegetation surveys are part of the long-term data collection conducted at Tall Timbers Research Station. Game bird biologist, Shane Wellendorf, compared the June field vegetation data from last year to this year. The plant height went from 48 cm last year to 26 cm this year, a 46% decrease, and the plant canopy coverage went from 69% last year to 19% this year, a 72% reduction. These observations clearly document the impacts of the recent dry conditions on vegetation quality.
The Albany area has been suffering a more severe drought than much of the Tallahassee and Thomasville areas, with some sites receiving almost no rain in the last two months and temperatures over 100 degrees. Due to the sandy soils, cover in brood fields in Albany is highly dependent on rainfall; both burned woods and brood fields are currently lacking necessary cover. Bobwhite survival on our study area in Albany has not been as high as we would like (55%). This has been a problem for the last couple of years due to low cotton rat number, but is also being magnified this year by the weather. Nesting is currently at 0.20 nests per hen, which is not far behind where we were last year (0.22), however last year was also a low adult survival year. The end result of last years’ hatch was “hold your own” or a slight decrease in bird numbers. We are hopeful that rainfall will return soon and help produce a strong late hatch more similar to what we saw in 2008.
Bobwhites on our South Carolina Study area are showing nesting rates similar to that on Tall Timbers, with nests per hen at 0.35 as of June 8. Interestingly, half of the nests thus far have been incubated in May, whereas we had few May nests in Thomasville and Albany this year. So, bobwhite reproduction across our study areas show that despite dry conditions, nesting activity is about normal where some rainfall has occurred. The huge bird numbers on some Red Hills properties, combined with large over-winter carry-over may be dampening nesting on some sites. Where rainfall has been absent and habitat has not recovered, lower survival rates of adults, and perhaps lower nesting rates, will negatively influence the early hatch. Weather forecasts predict “normal conditions” returning for July through September. With adequate rainfall we have the opportunity for a strong mid and late season hatch, which will be needed on sites suffering the worst drought conditions thus far.
The study site in Alabama is holding up much like Tall Timbers and South Carolina, with survival at 75% and nests per hen at 0.32. According to Albany Quail Project director, Clay Sisson, this site has a little better soil and has had a couple of rain showers that Albany did not have.
The M-CORES program, which includes the proposed Suncoast Connector Toll Road in Jefferson County, passed through the Florida Legislature at breakneck speed with little review or analysis. Tall Timbers has a number of concerns given the potential for significant and wide spread impacts. These include fragmenting public and private conservation lands, robbing business from Main Street Monticello, impacting our rivers and other water resources, and making prescribed fire more difficult and costly.
Join us in asking the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners to OPPOSE the Suncoast Connector toll road and its path through Jefferson County.
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Burn prioritization modeling seminars and fire modeling tools are supported by Wildland Fire Science to train managers in the important planning stages of prescribed fires.
Educating and guiding the next generation of fire researchers and managers is a key goal of Wildland Fire Science and a resource for testing new ideas in fire research.
Tall Timbers hosts the premier fire technology transfer organization—the Southern Fire Exchange. This JFSP funded effort helps connect research to management through webinars, workshops, and support of the Prescribed Fire Science Consortium.
Working with partners in the Prescribed Fire Science Consortium, the program is building nexgen 3-D fuel beds using terrestrial LiDAR and novel sampling techniques to power new fire behavior models for prescribed fire managers. This work links to Tall Timbers work in wildlife habitat usage and ecological forestry.
The Longleaf Legacy landscape prescribed fire burn team arm of Wildland Fire Science works directly with landowners and partners to effectively put fire on the ground and promote prescribed fire throughout the region.
Tall Timbers is leading an effort to map fire regimes at the landscape scale. Staff work with numerous agencies to evaluate fire records and satellite imagery to build this critical conservation database. https://skfb.ly/6DqOY
Tall Timbers hosts the Prescribed Fire Science Consortium, a national network of researchers and managers who promote integrated research and management to advance next generation tools for fire practitioners. https://arcg.is/1DSjDT
We are linking physics and field observations to understand the fluid dynamics of fire behavior surface fire regimes. Our work combines field observations using advanced thermal imaging techniques, laboratory studies, and coupled fire-atmospheric modeling to help managers improve outcomes of managed fire regimes.
Selected Publications authored by Wildland Fire Science staff.
Staff and researchers support Federal fire training by serving as a cadre for NWCG training courses, ranging from basic wildland fire to advanced fire effects.
(PFTC) specializes in training fire fighters the principles and techniques of prescribed fire through practical hands-on experience. https://www.fws.gov/fire/pftc/
Private land owners are the largest source of prescribed fire in the country. These land owners and the culture of fire that was maintained by them during decades of suppression are a part of why Tall Timbers is a world-wide center for prescribed fire science. Workshops and fire training are a critical focus of the Longleaf Legacy Landscape Burn Team and our support of the Georgia Forestry Commission Prescribed Fire Center in Marion County.
The conserved lands of the Greater Red Hills region are found on working, income-producing properties that support agriculture, forestry, and recreational hunting. These properties contribute $272 million annually to local economies and support 2,300 jobs. [link to Planning & Advocacy section] The landowners’ strong stewardship ethic preserves their working lands while replenishing drinking water supplies, protecting water quality, and providing wildlife habitat for dozens of rare and endangered species. Tall Timbers’ conservation easements on these working properties encourage landowners to retain their traditional livelihood by keeping farms in family ownership.
Home to world-class wild quail populations, the Greater Red Hills region contains the largest concentration of gamebird preserves in the United States. These preserves also support the largest community of Red-cockaded woodpeckers on private lands. Indicators of high quality habitat found here include the gopher tortoise, Bachman’s sparrow, fox squirrel, and many amphibians. Tall Timbers’ conservation easements identify and protect the critical habitats of these species.
The region also boasts outstanding aquatic resources. Large river systems, like the Flint/Apalachicola, Ochlockonee, and Aucilla, flow from Georgia and feed into the Gulf of Mexico to support some of the world’s most productive estuaries. Large disappearing sinkhole lakes, like Iamonia, Miccosukee, and Jackson, provide habitat for an array of aquatic species and migratory birds. Tall Timbers’ conservation easements protect these vital watersheds and wetlands that are the lifeblood for the ecological health of the region.
Once dominated by longleaf pine, our pine woodlands support abundant wildlife and local economies. These forests need prescribed fire to stay healthy. Herbert L. Stoddard and his associates Ed and Roy Komarek were pioneers in this emerging scientific field during the mid-20th century. Tall Timbers continues that legacy with applied research on prescribed fire and land management. Today, there is a tremendous need to expand prescribed fire use beyond the Red Hills to ensure ecosystem health and reduce wildfire risk. Additionally, Tall Timbers uses conservation easements to permanently protect private woodlands while balancing the need for economic return from selective timbering.
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