The Chinese ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is an important game species and iconic symbol in North Dakota. These birds require a variety of different habitats throughout their lifespan. During the brood rearing stage, selection of appropriate habitat allows chicks to forage, avoid predators, and escape inclement weather. Habitat selection during this stage is therefore critical to chick survival. From 2008-2011, we analyzed brood habitat selection from hatch until approximately 14 days post hatch. We monitored a total of 65 broods at two sites in Adams County North Dakota. Study sites consisted of lands previously enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) being managed under a multiple land use system. Radio telemetry was used to monitor habitat selection and survival of broods. Brood survival ranged from a low of 51% in 2008 to a high of 60% in 2011. Brood locations and available sites did not differ in visual obstruction or canopy cover.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.