Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1971

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Abstract

Information was gathered on mobility, behavior, and related activities of pheasants from July 1966 to July 1968 by banding and/or marking 160 birds with backtags and radio transmitters. Food was readily available since the winters were mild with little snow. Birds moved less than 1/4 mile from roosting areas to cornfields and weed patches to feed. Numbers of birds dispersing from the study area in spring varied each of the years, but 60 to 70 remained there during the two reproductive seasons. Adult cocks traveled less than 1/4 mile when dispersing-and adult hens moved less than 1/2 mile. Movements by two juvenile cocks averaged over 1/2 mile and one juvenile hen traveled two miles. Adult and juvenile cocks moved less than ¼ and 1/2 mile, respectively, from capture sites according to hunting recoveries. Home ranges of hens and breeding cocks overlapped during early nesting periods. Hens sometimes nested within the territories of their chosen cocks. Following nest destruction hens sought other crowing cocks up to one mile away. Home ranges for five hens in harems averaged 69 acres while two hens not in harems averaged 25 acres. Home ranges for six cocks with harems averaged nine acres while those without harems (five) averaged 15 acres. Two radio-equipped juvenile cocks occupied 60-acre areas during hunting season.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Pheasants -- Behavior
Birds -- South Dakota -- migration
Ring-necked pheasant -- Behavior
Bird banding -- South Dakota

Description

Includes bibliographical references (page 42-44)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

52

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/

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