2010 North Dakota Pheasant Crowing Count
North Dakota’s annual pheasant crowing count survey showed a 6% decline for the overall state in 2010. The number of crows heard in the northwest part of the state was down by 16% from 2009, though counts in the southwest and southeast stayed relatively flat from the previous year. The northeast region of the state also showed a decline of 10%.
Pheasant crow counts are conducted by driving specific 20-mile routes, stopping at predetermined intervals and counting the number of pheasant roosters heard during a 2-minute period. Each year, the numbers are compared with the previous year’s data to determine spring rooster population. This data neither predicts fall population nor adult hen populations.
The noted decline in bird population counts likely stemmed from a combination of a lower number of adult birds surviving the winter of 2008-2009 and poor production in the spring of 2009 due to cool, wet weather at the time of hatch, which is believed to have increased chick mortality.