The Availability of Sunflower and Ragweed Seeds during Fall and Winter

Abstract

Studies of the food habits of the bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) in Kansas revealed that although western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) and sunflower seeds (Helianthus spp.) constituted a major portion of the fall diet of quail, few such seeds were consumed in winter. Counts of giant ragweed (A. trifida) and common sunflower (H. annuus) seeds conducted during October through January showed that the seeds of both species decreased in abundance as winter progressed. Thus, the marked reduction of sunflower and ragweed seeds in the winter diet of bobwhites probably results from a decrease in availability. Studies by Baumgartner et al. (1952) in Oklahoma and Korschgen (1948) in Missouri have shown that bobwhite quail readily consume sunflower and ragweed seeds when available. Bookhout (1958) in Illinois also found ragweed to be a favored food of quail. Robel (1963) in Kansas found that sunflower and ragweed seeds constitute a major portion of the quail diet in late fall and early winter, but only a minor portion after midwinter. He postulated that this might be caused by a lack of available seeds. The purpose of this study was to determine the quantities of ragweed and sunflower seeds available to quail in fall and winter.