| dc.description.abstract | As decades have passed there has been a noticeable decline in the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter bobwhite) population. Only a handful of studies have been made in the assessment of the survival of translocated/reintroduced specimens of this species. I evaluated the effectiveness of reintroduction of northern bobwhite into the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (GEWMA) where they have been extirpated, but now have suitable habitat. Prior to reintroduction, GEWMA was surveyed (spring call counts) to make sure no bobwhites were present on the site. Forty-six (26 males and 20 females) bobwhites were trapped for 7 March–5 April 2019 in South Texas, banded, radio-tagged, transported to GEWMA, and released. In addition, 17 (9 males and 8 females) bobwhites were trapped from 13–15 April 2019, banded, radio-tagged, and released back into the source population as a control for comparison of movements, reproduction, and survival estimate differences between the source and released bobwhite populations. Survival for bobwhites released at GEWMA only was 37.0% through 1 July 2019 and 70.6% for birds left on the ranch in South Texas. As of 1 July 2019, 3 nests (2 were predated; 1 by feral hogs and another by a snake) were found at GEWMA while none were found on the ranch in South Texas. Movement distances between daily locations for males and females did not differ at GEWMA or at the ranch in South Texas; however, there was a significant (P ≤ 0.001) difference in daily movement for quail at GEWMA and the South Texas ranch. Female quail at GEWMA moved 5.4 times the distance of female quail in South Texas and male quail at GEWMA moved 5.9 times the distance of male quail in South Texas. Quail at GEWMA were located in woody cover only 24.2% of the time, whereas quail in South Texas were located in woody cover 76.1% of the time. The grater daily movement and less use of woody cover for quail at GEWMA probably added to their lower survival. | en |
