06-19-2008, 08:10 PM
HURON, S.D.-With the prairie winds waving around waist-high grass that has benefited from above-normal precipitation this spring, many nesting birds including pheasant, grouse and waterfowl are at the peak of their critical nesting and brood rearing time.
<br>"Although it has been cooler and wetter than average along with localized hail and flooding, much of the state's grassland areas are looking very favorable from a nesting and brood-rearing habitat perspective," said S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department Senior Upland Game Biologist Chad Switzer of Huron. "However, when it comes to our pheasant reproduction, we won't know the impact of these weather conditions until our staff completes the annual pheasant brood surveys this August."<br>
<br>With the removal of approximately 300,000 acres from the Conservation Reserve Program last fall and the evidence of the increasing conversion of South Dakota's native grasslands to cropland, quality habitat for nesting cover is increasingly becoming a concern for wildlife managers. "Even though Mother Nature does not fully cooperate with us at times, land management decisions at the local and landscape levels can have significant impacts on wildlife populations," said Switzer.<br>
<br>The decision whether or not to mow a highway roadside and at what time to mow it can prove to be very beneficial to the success of nesting pheasants across the state. S.D. Department of Transportation rule § 70:04:06:06 says that state highway roadsides may not be mowed for hay before June 15 in Lyman, Gregory and Tripp counties found west of the Missouri River and not before July 10 in all counties east of the Missouri River.<br>
<br>According to Switzer, "Roadside ditches may offer an essential component of nesting habitat for pheasants and other grassland nesting birds in certain portions of South Dakota. With approximately 8,000 miles of roads under the state's authority and another estimated 80,000 miles of roads under county and township jurisdiction, delaying mowing activity could reduce hen loss to mowing equipment, increase nest success and increase chick survival by providing more time for pheasant broods to become more mobile."<br>
<br>Although on average the peak nesting period for pheasants in South Dakota is mid-June, delaying mowing activities until later in the summer would provide the greatest benefit to pheasant production. A game report titled "Avian Nest Densities and Success in State Highway Roadsides in South Dakota" can be found at the GFP Web site at http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/P...port04.pdf.
<br>"Although it has been cooler and wetter than average along with localized hail and flooding, much of the state's grassland areas are looking very favorable from a nesting and brood-rearing habitat perspective," said S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department Senior Upland Game Biologist Chad Switzer of Huron. "However, when it comes to our pheasant reproduction, we won't know the impact of these weather conditions until our staff completes the annual pheasant brood surveys this August."<br>
<br>With the removal of approximately 300,000 acres from the Conservation Reserve Program last fall and the evidence of the increasing conversion of South Dakota's native grasslands to cropland, quality habitat for nesting cover is increasingly becoming a concern for wildlife managers. "Even though Mother Nature does not fully cooperate with us at times, land management decisions at the local and landscape levels can have significant impacts on wildlife populations," said Switzer.<br>
<br>The decision whether or not to mow a highway roadside and at what time to mow it can prove to be very beneficial to the success of nesting pheasants across the state. S.D. Department of Transportation rule § 70:04:06:06 says that state highway roadsides may not be mowed for hay before June 15 in Lyman, Gregory and Tripp counties found west of the Missouri River and not before July 10 in all counties east of the Missouri River.<br>
<br>According to Switzer, "Roadside ditches may offer an essential component of nesting habitat for pheasants and other grassland nesting birds in certain portions of South Dakota. With approximately 8,000 miles of roads under the state's authority and another estimated 80,000 miles of roads under county and township jurisdiction, delaying mowing activity could reduce hen loss to mowing equipment, increase nest success and increase chick survival by providing more time for pheasant broods to become more mobile."<br>
<br>Although on average the peak nesting period for pheasants in South Dakota is mid-June, delaying mowing activities until later in the summer would provide the greatest benefit to pheasant production. A game report titled "Avian Nest Densities and Success in State Highway Roadsides in South Dakota" can be found at the GFP Web site at http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/P...port04.pdf.