A predictive habitat model for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) in Delaware

Graduate Research Assistants: Ken Duren (M.S. Wildlife Ecology)

Collaborators: Jeff Buler and Bill Jones (Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife), Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) are experiencing rangewide population declines faster than any other songbird in North America with 82% loss over 40 years. Some of the strongest declines have occurred in the Upper Mid-Atlantic States where abundances were once one of the highest in the country. Consequently, efforts are underway to determine what regions quail populations remain and what habitats have the potential to manage for future conservation. Between 15 May – 15 August, 2008 and 2009, we are conducting 6 replicates of 20 whistle point-count survey routes to sample the presence and density of bobwhite in Delaware and the Delmarva Peninsula. We will also record the presence and density of sympatric grassland bird species of conservation concern. We will use recorded presence/absence and associated habitat to 1) build predictive habitat distribution models that identify scale-dependent relationships in habitat use, 2) produce habitat suitability maps that reflects either predicted presence or density of breeding bobwhite and grassland songbirds within Delaware, and 3) use model outcome and distribution map to target future land conservation of existing habitat and optimize the impact of management efforts.

Photo Credit: Ken Duren