The Ring-necked Pheasant (Pasianus colchicus) in California: Assessing Status and Factors Related to Population Trends
The status of pheasants in California has not been thoroughly assessed in nearly 25 years. An understanding of pheasant population trends and factors impacting pheasant populations is needed to guide management of pheasant populations and their habitats. This project will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of available information on pheasants and factors possibly related to population dynamics, and where data are adequate, will evaluate the relationship between pheasant populations and possible limiting factors.
Specific objectives of this project are to:
- Gather, compile, and summarize existing published reports, unpublished reports, and data sets on population status, harvest, and ecology of ring-necked pheasants in California.
- Synthesize existing information to determine and summarize regional (e.g., Klamath Basin, Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, Imperial Valley, and local Wildlife Area and Federal Refuge (e.g., Mendota Wildlife Area and Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge) pheasant population status and trends.
- Gather, compile, and summarize existing information on landscape, environmental, and other factors (e.g., extent of nesting and brood habitat, precipitation, management practices, pesticide use, hunting regulations) hypothesized to impact pheasant populations in California.
- Model pheasant populations vs. habitat and other factors at regional and/or local scale (depending upon available data) to evaluate strength of evidence linking population change to changes in habitat and other factors.
- Report results of modeling and identify data still needed to further reduce uncertainty and guide management of pheasant populations and their habitat in California.