Changes in land use and land cover throughout the eastern half of North America have caused substantial declines in populations of birds that rely on grassland and shrubland vegetation types, including socially and economically important game birds.
The Northern Bobwhite is an ecologically, economically, and culturally important bird associated with early-successional habitat. The species is declining across much of their geographic range and numerous state, federal, and NGO agencies are working towards recovering this species. Recovery will be informed by identifying focal areas for management and understanding the distribution of birds across large geographic areas.
The USDA Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) program seeks to improve habitat on working farms and ranches for northern bobwhites and a range of other wildlife species that benefit from early successional ecosystems. This project investigates the degree to which bobwhite presence is an indicator of the presence of other priority bird species and the benefits of WLFW practices to nongame birds.
