Preference of pen-reared northern bobwhite among native plant seeds of the sand sagebrush-mixed prairie

Authors: THACKER, ERIC - Utah State University; Springer, Timothy

Submitted to: Southwestern Naturalist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2016
Publication Date: 12/20/2016
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5695426
Citation: Thacker, E.T., Springer, T.L. 2016. Preference of pen-reared northern bobwhite among native plant seeds of the sand sagebrush-mixed prairie. Southwestern Naturalist. 61(4):307-311.

Interpretive Summary: Scientist at the Southern Plains Range Research Station, Woodward, OK determined the northern bobwhite quail preference among seeds of 45 native plant species associated with the sand sagebrush-mixed prairie. The sand sagebrush-mixed prairie community supports a broad range of plants and animals, including the northern bobwhite quail. In a preference test of seeds of 45 plant species associated with the sand sagebrush-mixed prairie, five were highly preferred among bobwhite quail, 13 species were intermediately preferred, and 27 were least preferred for food. Improving rangeland conditions by using moderate stocking rates, especially during drought, or by planting a greater balance of native grasses, sunflowers, shrubs, forbs, and legumes, when reestablishing marginal crop lands, would improve habitat and diet quality for bobwhite quail and other wildlife species.

Technical Abstract: Adult northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) are largely granivorous, eating primarily seeds produced from grasses and forbs. The objective of this research was to determine northern bobwhite quail preference among seeds of 45 plant species associated with the sand sagebrush-mixed prairie. A preference existed among the 45 plant species by weight of seed consumed and percentage of seed in diet (P = 0.05) and on the basis of a cluster analysis of these variables. Five species were categorized into most preferred for food. These included in order of preference: switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), Rocky Mountain beeplant (Cleome serrulata Pursh), annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), sand lovegrass (Eragrostis trichodes [Nutt.] Alph. Wood), and false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides [L.] Sweet). Thirteen plants were categorized into intermediately preferred for food and 27 species were categorized into least preferred for food. The sand sagebrush-mixed prairie community supports a broad range of plants and animals, including the northern bobwhite quail. Improving rangeland conditions by employing conservative grazing management, especially during drought, or by planting a greater balance of native grasses, sunflowers, shrubs, forbs, and legumes, when reestablishing marginal crop lands, would improve habitat for bobwhite quail and other wildlife species.