Historic, archived document

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F. S. RECEIVE; LIBRARY

MAY 24 1940

tment of the Interior

United States Depa: Bureau of Bi

Wildlife Leaflet BS~158

IN

By Hobert ©. McClanahan Biologist, Division of Wildlife Research

Informatvicn on the. original as well as the present distribution of 3

t L various game species is indispenssble to the same technician who is work- ing for the increase ef wildlife cn an ares. . Attempts to introduce or propagate game ac a heir natural ranges diel ne end

t though there are notable

and mammals outside t x1 G aise re should to a large ex-

isive and doubtii fe

in failure or exp fe “Manazenent practic

exceptions. Wild

ct

Fig

Boh a aon

tent have to do mith species that occur or have occurred in the region. This leaflet is desig gned to summarize in convenicnt form information on the

former and present distribution of certain game birds in the Unit for use by Federal, State, and vrivate workers on game nroblems

it dis fenerally recognized that ranges are not stable, but are continu= ally changing. The rapid spread of the English sparrov and the E starling after their introduction into the United States, the appearance of the ring-necked duck as a nesting bird in Maine, and thespread of prairie chicken northwesterly are striking examples of recent extensions in range.

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The extinction of the passenger pigeon and the heath hen and the great reduction in the breeding area of the trumpeter swan are extreme illustra tions of reductions in range that have taken place,

In the case of waterfowl, the drainage of sloughs, ponds, and lakes for

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cultivation ané@ mosquito control 2s el imine ed many of the former breeding est sneer partially the result of wwise drainage, has further re Q ae i ad the ranges of many species, and as a ‘direct result of lowered water evels botu ern has taken its toll of the diminished watorfowl population. Market hunting, spring shooting, and other unsportsmanlike practices did not pernit sufficient numbers of birds to return to the breeding grounds, sa becaus e of continued shooting over the same waters, lead poisoning be~ ale An ~ a. ta © prevalent. In coastal areas oil pollution took a heavy toll, and in

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the case of the brant, failure cf the food supply played an unexpected part. Destruction of nesting sites and reduction in the number of birds returning to breed could have but cne result-—reduction in range.

Fortunately there have been factors that have encouraged some species of waterfowl to nest Lees the limits of their former ranges. large ref- uges established by the Federal Government and eed other areas under State or private control have been the most notable factors, but irrigation proj- ects and watcr-power impoundments also have provided new nesting sites, These additional habitats, however, are insigmificant compared with the vast areas thot have boen destroyed.

Among woland game species, also, ranges have been reduced by settlement and cultivation, ieee S hunting and sthoorine for sport during an open season hat extended into the breeding He ae ior tant epened pono the young birds were fully grown eliminated speci from somc areas and reduced their numbers elscwhere. Also taking their soll. of upland species were augenee and in-

clement weather conditions,

Settlement ai changes in agriculhrdl prectices,. inimi terests of some upland game species, have enabled others t TecunD. new terrix tory, the extension of the prairie chicken northwosterly being an example, introduction of gamn birds into new localitics also has resulted in an in- ereased ranzo for some species, although in most cases this practice has ended “lgl) Beene Tego)

Through the accompanying series of 37 mans (pp. 3-21), an attempt is made to picture the original breeding range or the area occupied by the birds before the disturbing hand of man was active to any great extent, To contrast

original and oar conditions, the »resent range ois siven. Iniseme ceases this illustrates the success attained in PE ORCI ER alex the (Goeesn ral" range, but in too — instance. CURvedi an /tie pankelof yaad ase. Undoubtedly the mans are incomplete for some species, although no at— tempt nes been made to show ac tal or occasional records. To supplement known facts, with a vicw to making the information more generally available, additional data are requested from all ficld workers. Since many nonbreed- ing birds, especia ae oe are frequently seen during the breeding season in areas where n that they do not nest, all breeding records should be substantiated by r coerce on the location of a nest with eggs or on the observation of young incapable of flight. A definite locality and date should always be given, with any other pertinent data. Through this cooper- ation it is hoped that a more exact knowledge of the past and present distri-~ bution and population trends of our game birds may be obtained.

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