Pennsylvania Game News - August 2020 - 25

ants thrived. Comparing pheasant crowing surveys with habitat, biologists developed a model that identified the two best
predictors for pheasant density.
They learned the proportion of idle
grass had a positive influence on hen
density while the proportion of forest had
a negative influence. These two predictors
were used to develop a spatial model
that shows where in Pennsylvania the
potential exists for future wild-pheasant
restoration.
Researchers also developed a population-density estimator that works through
aspects that often cause bias. The estimator provided extremely accurate estimates
for relatively small populations, something that has never been done before.
The estimator uses data from surveys of crowing males, completed by
documenting vocalizations at hundreds of
points multiple times each spring, as well
as sex ratio, which is determined through
late-winter flushing surveys where hundreds of volunteers employ their dogs to
help flush and sex pheasants.

THE POTENTIAL
More than a decade of research and
monitoring on 12 study areas within the
four WPRAs shone new light on pheasant biology within Pennsylvania and
range-wide.
In the end, only one of 12 study areas
achieved the success managers sought. A
combination of factors led to the population declines documented in the other
study areas. In some WPRAs, it was found
the proportion of forest was too high. And
rising commodity prices and various other
factors led the way for dramatic habitat
loss and populations diminishing at different rates over time.
The Somerset WPRA experienced
both rapid habitat loss and a particularly
AUGUST 2020

hard winter with long-lasting deep snows.
By 2017, the population there was almost
nonexistent, and the WPRA was dissolved
in early 2018.
A majority of the Hegins-Gratz Valley
WPRA had a high proportion of forest
that caused slowly declining populations.
Although some birds persisted, a huntable population seemed unlikely, and this
WPRA was dissolved in 2019.
The Franklin County WPRA, even
with the least number of translocated
birds, showed a slowly increasing trend
over time. It has a proportion of forest that
is low enough to support wild pheasants

SPECIAL THANKS
No research project of this magnitude can
occur without assistance from many groups and
individuals making important contributions.
Thanks to the Pennsylvania Board of Game
Commissioners, both past and present, and
others within the agency for their support and
hard work.
Thanks to Pheasants Forever staff, and the
organization's Central Susquehanna, Somerset, Schuylkill County and Cumberland Valley
chapters.
Thanks to all the cooperating private landowners within the WPRAs.
Thanks to the Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish
and Wildlife Research Unit at Penn State, specifically Lacey Williamson, Duane Diefenbach and
David Walter.
Thanks to the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Pennsylvania Power and Light Co., Fort Peck
Indian Reservation, Lower Brule Indian Reservation, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and
Parks, California University of Pennsylvania, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and
Wildlife Program, and Habitat Forever.
Thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who
donated their time.
And last, but certainly not least, special thanks
to Scott Klinger, Colleen Delong, Megan Rake,
Brandon Black, Ray Grater and Wyatt Knepp,
along with the many other biologists and technicians who were the backbone of this project.
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Pennsylvania Game News - August 2020

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