Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania Game Commission
Population: Between 1966 and 2012 bobwhite populations declined by 9.1% annually. Between 2001 and 2012 the decline continued at 9.5% annually. The relative abundance index in 2002 –12 was 0.27 compared to 20.7 for the Eastern USA (USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey data 1966 – 2012; BBS). Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and partners completed a detailed Breeding Bird Atlas in 2012. Northern bobwhites were determined to be breeding in only 18 of over 4,000 survey blocks. In 2014, a detailed analysis of all existing population data (e-bird, Breeding Bird Atlas, BBS, Christmas Bird Count, and survey of land managers throughout the state) was conducted by the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at The Pennsylvania State University (PSU). No locations in the state showed persistence of bobwhites in every decade since 1960. The PGC conducted intensive surveys in the last known locations of bobwhites using a playback caller in June – July 2014. No northern bobwhite were detected. As a result of these studies, researchers at PSU and the PGC have concluded that wild northern bobwhite have been extirpated in Pennsylvania. Hunting: In 2013 –14, hunting season was closed in 20 counties in south-central and southeast Pennsylvania. The remainder of the state was open with a daily bag limit of four and a possession limit of eight. The PGC does not raise and release bobwhites, but many sportsman clubs and shooting preserves do for the purposes of training and hunting. Based on a survey of game bird propagators, we estimate that over 60,000 pen-reared bobwhites were released in 2013, primarily for dog training. Based on PGC Game Take Survey, 2,280 quail hunters harvested 127 bobwhite. This does not include harvest on regulated shooting preserves. We believe the harvest is from pen-reared and released birds. Because of a small sample size, the confidence intervals for these mean estimates are very large. Management: PGC completed a statewide quail plan and is a partner with NBCI. The plan does recommend identifying the best locations for restoration, the establishment of bobwhite focus areas, and wild bobwhite reintroduction efforts, if necessary, to re-establish populations of this once native game bird. The PGC Board of Commissioners announced in June 2015 plans to establish the first Pennsylvania Northern Bobwhite Quail Focus Area (BQFA) in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Military Affairs (PDMA) at Fort Indiantown Gap. In addition, discussions are underway with other federal and state partners to establish BQFAs. Reintroduction efforts will require the support of other states in providing wild northern bobwhite for Pennsylvania reintroduction efforts. NBCI State Quail Coordinator: Scott R. Klinger, scklinger@pa.gov
South Carolina — South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Population: The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) 2014 statewide bobwhite population abundance index was 30% above the 2013 index and 68% below the long-term average. Hunting: Most recent information on statewide quail hunting (2005) indicated that about 6,500 quail hunters hunted 29,000 days and harvested 59,470 wild quail. Average hunter success in the annual Quail Hunter Survey, most recently published for 2014 –15 hunting season, was 0.46 coveys per hour of hunting. Management: SCDNR has recently released a statewide quail management plan utilizing the tools and data contained in the NBCI 2.0. Quail management highlights for 2014 include: • Conducted a bobwhite summer brood survey for the 21st consecutive year. • Conducted fall covey count on the Indian Creek Habitat Restoration Area. • Since 2006, SCDNR has cooperated with the USDA Forest Service and multiple other partners in developing habitat on the Indian Creek Wildlife Habitat Restoration Area. Over 3,000 acres of USFS lands are in the process of being restored to pine savanna. • Reported 41,103 acres of management for the NBCI Habitat Management Inventory (chart below; Figures 1,2 and 4). On agency lands, 23,339 acres were prescribed burned and 2,309 acres of timber were thinned. • Maintained quail page on the SCDNR web site. State Quail Coordinator: Michael Hook, hookm@dnr.sc.gov
46 • NBCI’s Bobwhite Almanac