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Forage Extension Program
Ring-Necked Pheasant
Habitat Management Suggestions
for Selected Wildlife Species
By R.J. Mackie, R.F. Batchelor, M.E. Majerus, J.P. Weigand,
and V.P. Sundberg
"Much
excellent habitat that existed in dryland areas
has been lost because of changes in farming practices."
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The ring-necked pheasant was introduced into Montana
in the early 1900's and is not established wherever
suitable habitat exists. More than 150,000 of this popular
game bird are bagged by Montana hunters each year.
The ringneck occurs throughout the agricultural region
of the state, primarily on irrigated croplands. It is
rarely found in any numbers where cereal grains are
not part of the cropping system. Much excellent habitat
that existed in dryland areas has been lost because
of changes in farming practices. Most notable was the
loss of conservation reserve lands, as well as the current
trend toward larger expanses of fallow and equally large
grain fields with little or not permanent cover intermixed.
The practice of fall tillage of grain fields eliminates
any waste grains that might otherwise have been available
to feed pheasants throughout the critical winter period.
The continuing conversion of irrigated grain fields
to pasture and hay further erodes quality ringneck habitat
throughout the state. Consequently, pheasant populations
in much of the state have dwindled from highs of the
early 1940's and mid-1950's. The combination of conditions
that favored the ringneck during these periods is unlikely
to prevail again.
Food
The food of mature pheasants consists primarily of
weed seeds, grains, and tender plants; while young birds
require a large portion of insect food. Pheasants are
capable of going several days without food during winter
stress periods.
Cereal grains - barley, corn, proso millet, oats and
wheat - make up over 80 percent of the pheasant's diet.
Seeds of knotweed, pigweed, ricegrass, Russian thistle
and sunflower are also eaten. Succulent leaves of alfalfa,
the clovers and other forbs are eaten when available
- hawthorn, rose and snowberry - are not preferred,
but my sustain birds through periods of deep snow when
other foods are scarce. Pheasant chicks live almost
wholly on insects - ants, beetles, caterpillars and
grasshoppers - during summer and fall.
Cover
A variety of cover types is necessary to provide "living
quarters" for ringnecks. Large populations are
usually found where a combination of cropland, waste
or idle land, marshland, pasture and woody thickets
occur. Areas of diversified crop farming will support
more pheasants than those having a single crop covering
vast areas. Hens conceal their nests in weed patches,
grassy fence rows, along roadside and irrigation ditches,
alfalfa fields and pastures. Roosting cover is provided
by alfalfa, dense grass, grain stubble, rushes, cattails
and weed patches. Many pheasants are killed and nests
destroyed during the first mowing of alfalfa fields.
Habitat Management Suggestions
Develop Wild Cover
Let strips along fence rows, ditch banks, roadsides
and field corners revert to natural cover; and allow
sumps, equipment parking areas, corrals, old building
grounds and other sites to grow wild cover.
Avoid Burning and Discing Mid-April to Mid-June
The most important, simplest and practical action a
landowner can take to benefit pheasants is to avoid
burning, discing or spraying ditchbanks and waste areas
from the middle of April to the middle of June. This
period is the critical nesting season. Loss of cover
at this time results in a) hen pheasants abandoning
their nests; b) forcing hens to nest in hay fields,
where later mowings cause heavy losses; c) destruction
of young chicks; and d) reduction of insect food vital
to young pheasants during their first few weeks of life.
Some weeds may be controlled after nesting, before they
mature and produce seed.
Mowings
When mowing alfalfa or other hay crops during the nesting
season, mow from the center of the field toward the
edges. Although loss of pheasants will still occur,
this practice will tend to push some of the birds to
the safety of field edges. Flushing bars can further
reduce losses.
Use Caution with Insecticides
Spraying with insecticides should be avoided during
the month of June. By postponing spraying until July,
young pheasants are insured an adequate insect supply
during their first and second weeks of life. Use insecticides
with caution. Some insecticides have proved in some
instances to be detrimental to bird life.
Tillage
In the grain belt, refraining from fall tilling of
grain stubble provides a waste grain food source available
to pheasants through the critical winter period that
otherwise would not be available.
Shelterbelts and Field Windbreaks
The establishment of shelterbelts and windbreaks, in
addition to meeting their primary conservation objectives,
can provide cover and food for pheasants , sharp-tailed
grouse and a variety of non-game birds if properly maintained
and care is given to the selection of plant materials
of value to wildlife.
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