IMPROVING PHEASANT HABITAT
by Ryan Walker

It’s commonplace for imports from China to enter the United States daily. However, in 1895 imports to the U.S. from China were a rarity. One such import has been a staple to upland bird hunters throughout the Midwest for the last 70 years. Michigan pheasant hunters experienced the state’s golden age of pheasant hunting during the decades of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The Thumb served as the focal point for Michigan’s pheasant population. Back in the day, farms had smaller fields of 10-20 acres, which were surrounded by fencerows of brush. The abundant croplands, alfalfa fields, grasslands, wetlands and brush created ideal pheasant habitat. Over the last four decades, the state has witnessed a loss of pheasant habitat that has aided in the decline of the overall pheasant population in Michigan, as well as in the Thumb.

Efforts are being undertaken by local, state and national organizations to increase Michigan’s pheasant habitat. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE) is working with Pheasants Forever, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other conservation groups to bring back pheasants in key areas around the state. Ideal pheasant habitat begins with a few basic needs.

Pheasants need medium to high grasses to hide, nest and raise chicks in. Hens prefer cover eight to 10 inches high to nest in so they can see predators. Alfalfa and clover work well, but pheasant nests need to be undisturbed for about 40 to 50 days. Alfalfa and clover used for agriculture are usually mowed within the timeframe used by nesting birds. Landowners seeking to incorporate pheasant habitat can use alfalfa and clover mixed with brome grass. The first cutting would have to wait until the middle of July in order to protect nesting hens and their eggs.

Once chicks hatch, they seek survival in grasses such as orchard grass, timothy, bluestem, Indian grass and switch grass. Ideally, these grass fields should be near brushy fence rows to provide protected travel corridors. Fence lines limit the amount of time birds must be in the open, susceptible to fox, coyote and house cats. Mature grasslands protect chicks and adults from aerial attacks by hawks and owls. Grasslands create a canopy that shields bird movement from the sharp eyes in the sky. Crops located near grasslands also cut down on the amount of predation, because the distance to travel in order to eat is closer to safety. An added bonus is whitetail deer and cottontail rabbits thrive in grassland habitats. Songbirds also make their homes in the various grasses and weeds, so improving pheasant habitat also improves the habitat of many other wildlife species.

Other key components of good pheasant habitat should provide winter protection from snow and predators. Wetlands with cattails create windbreaks to protect adult pheasants from nature’s icy breath. Heavy, wet snow can be hard on pheasants unless they have some place to literally “weather the storm.” Cattails also serve to protect birds from predators. Anyone who has attempted to make their way through stands of cattails can attest to the protective quality they possess. Land that can’t maintain wetlands or cattails can offer winter protection if it has dense stands of switch grass. Snow piles up on top of the switch grass, but the underlying area remains uncrushed. Small game of all species will create tunnels beneath the grass to travel safely throughout the winter months.

Landowners seeking to maximize their pheasant habitat could consider planting small food plots of corn, buckwheat or sunflowers to stand throughout the winter in order to provide forage. Granted, many other critters will seek to devour the food plot as well. Buckwheat and sunflowers entice fewer dinner guests than corn. Weeds such as goldenrod also provide food for pheasants. Fields without mature trees nearby reduce the risk of predation by hawks and owls. Conservationists may consider cutting down any dead trees because birds of prey love to use the leafless stands as lookout posts for their next meal.

Spring is the ideal time to consider habitat improvements for pheasants. However, planning to improve habitat can make work go smoothly and efficiently. The MDNRE has identified three priority Pheasant Recovery Areas around the state of Michigan. One area consists of Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola Counties. Landowners seeking more information about the program can visit the Pheasant Recovery Initiative at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment Web site (www.michigan.gov/dnr). Another option for individuals seeking to improve the Thumb’s pheasant habitat is to join Thumb Chapter 101, which is a local chapter of Pheasants Forever. Their Web site (www.thumb.pheasantsforever.org) provides a fascinating history of the Thumb Chapter 101 and a list of local contacts.

Time will tell if pheasant hunting in the Thumb will ever rival the golden years, but habitat improvement in general could increase pheasant numbers for the future. Over 100 years ago ring-necked pheasants made their way across the world to take hold and flourish in the United States. Maybe 100 years from now our future generations will look back and remember the time pheasants made a dramatic comeback in the Thumb.