2-17522 p099-105 FFNdj

— Several studies have investigated the use of supplemental feeders by Northern Bobwhites ( Colinus virginianus ) and non-target species, but none have previously examined the use of food spread along fields. We used motion-sensing cameras to assess use of supplemental quail food spread along the edges of fields. A total of 3,233 camera hours resulted in 591 animal pictures associated with 328 animal visits. Rodents were the most common visitors (66.2% of pictures, 46.3% of visits), followed by songbirds (19% of pictures, 35% of visits). Eastern cottontails ( Sylvilagus floridanus ), Mourning Doves ( Zenaida macroura ), Common Ground-Doves ( Columbina passerina ), white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ), raccoons ( Procyon lotor ), feral hogs ( Sus scrofa ), nine-banded armadillos ( Dasypus novemcinctus ), and bobcats ( Lynx rufus ) were infrequent visitors, making up fewer than 13% of pictures or 16% of visits combined. Northern Bobwhites were not captured in any pictures, but this is likely an artifact of camera placement. Supplemental feeding is a common practice for the management of Northern Bobwhites ( Colinus virginianus , hereafter quail) throughout the Southeast (Robel and Kemp 1997, Townsend et al. 1999, Sisson et al. 2000, Guthery et al. 2004). Objectives of feeding include increasing or maintaining populations by increasing survival through winter or during periods of unfavorable conditions. Methods of delivering supplemental food include maintaining fixed feeders and spreading feed along roads, in forested plots, or along field and food plot edges (Frye 1954, Godbois et al. 2003, Haines et al. 2004). Whatever the method of delivery, it is certain that a portion of feed is consumed by species other than quail. Several studies have investigated non-target consumption of feed at fixed quail feeders (Frye 1954, Collins 1956, Haugen 1957, Kane 1988, Boyer 1989, Guthery et al. 2004, Henson 2006). These studies suggest that quail only consume between 1 and 5% of supplemental food (Collins 1956, Haugen 1957) and make between 0 and 11% of total visits to feeders (Kane 1988, Guthery et al. 2004, Henson 2006). Common visitors to feeders include songbirds, rodents, and raccoons ( Procyon lotor ). Deer and doves have also been noted as regular visitors. We know of no studies that have examined non-target use of feed 100 FLORIDA FIELD NATURALIST supplied by other methods, such as spreading feed along field and food plot edges. The less concentrated nature of feeding in this manner may attract a different set of foragers or present fewer potential side effects of feeding from fixed feeders such as food spoilage or attraction of predators. Examination of crops of quail harvested on site shows that quail do use the provided supplemental food (J. Stober, J. W. Jones Ecological Research Center, Newton, GA, unpubl. data); however, the use of supplemental food by non-target species has not been examined. Therefore, our objective was to fill this gap in knowledge by assessing the use of supplemental food spread along field and food plot edges by species other than quail.