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Supplemental Feeding of Northern Bobwhite Affects Red-Tailed Hawk Spatial Distribution |
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| Authors: | ASHLEY S TURNER L MIKE CONNER ROBERT J COOPER |
| Institution: | 1. Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center, Route 2, Box 2324, Newton, GA 39870, USA
W. C. Bradley Farms Inc., Route 1, Box 52, Omaha, GA 31821, USA;2. Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center, Route 2, Box 2324, Newton, GA 39870, USA Mike.Conner@jonesctr.org;3. Warnell School of Forest Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT Supplemental feeding is a widely used management practice in areas managed for northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter quail). Although food provisioning is intended to benefit quail directly, it may also indirectly affect predators by allowing them to focus on the increased concentration of prey. We studied the effects of food supplementation for northern bobwhite on red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) space use in a longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem in southwestern Georgia. We used radiotelemetry to determine whether hawks were attracted to areas where supplemental feeding occurred. We found hawks almost 3 times closer to feeding sites (224 ± 96 m; x̄ ± SE) than expected (638 ± 96 m). Our data provide an example of a common game management practice having an unintended influence on a top predator. |
| Keywords: | Buteo jamaicensis Colinus virginianus Georgia habitat use home range northern bobwhite quail red-tailed hawk supplemental food |