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How, where, why to plant winter pheasant habitats
THE LAND, OCTOBER 14, 2011
Pheasant populations in Minnesota have dropped 64 percent from 2010, largely due to two severe winters and a wet spring, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Landowners cannot control the weather; however, they can plant more thermal cover for overwintering wildlife. University of Minnesota Extension works with state and federal agencies to educate landowners about conservation practices that benefit soil,
water and wildlife resources. In partnership with conservation organizations and agency wildlife staff, Extension developed an online fact sheet to assist landowners in creating winter habitat for pheasants, available at www.extension.umn.edu/go/1081. Winter habitat areas can have a dramatic effect on pheasant populations in landscapes that have sufficient nesting cover, but experience severe winters. Winter habitat plantings
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placed near nesting areas can increase and 600 feet in length, or approxiover-winter survival and ultimately mately three acres) and be designed to result in more hens that are in better provide protection from prevailing condition. northwest winds. Plantings may be Lshaped, arcIf you are a shaped or rectanfarmer or other gular. landowner who Winter habitat areas can wishes to help • If possible, have a dramatic effect pheasants survive design the planton pheasant populations ing to protect a winter, consider the following recfood plot and in landscapes that have ommendations. herbaceous nestsufficient nesting cover, ing cover, such as • Locate winter habibut experience severe native grasses and tat areas within one or winters. forbs. two miles of nesting habitats, and within Flooding three miles of each affected many other, to increase benefits to pheasants croplands this spring, and some of and other wildlife. these areas may qualify for wetland • Avoid planting tall deciduous trees, banking or other programs that as they provide perch sites for avian include native vegetation establishment and increasing winter cover for predators. wildlife. County Soil and Water Con• Include conifers and shrubs. Also servation Districts and Natural include short deciduous trees such as Resource Conservation Service offices crabapples, which can provide a winter can help landowners identify plant food source as well as cover. and financial resources for wildlife • Plantings should include two rows habitats. of shrubs on the windward sides (north To learn more about possible shrubs and west) to catch drifting snow, an and trees that can provide winter open snow catch area, four or more habitat in Minnesota, log on to rows of closely spaced conifers (spruce, www.extension.umn.edu/agroforestry. etc.) and two rows of shrubs on the lee••• ward side (south and east). This article was submitted by Gary • A woody cover planting should be Wyatt, an agroforestry educator with large enough to provide shelter in University of Minnesota Extension. severe winters (at least 200 feet wide
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