Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program

Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program Contest Results

1999 National 4-H Wildlife Judging Contest Results Konza Prairie, Kansas
	The Loudoun County 4-H Wildlife Judging team successfully completed the National 4-H Habitat Evaluation Contest held at Konza Prairie, Kansas, July 28-31. Shawn Reynolds of Purcellville, VA was the high scorer for Virginia, finishing 8th out of 94 contestants in habitat techniques. Other team members were Kate and Meghan Kelleher of Purcellville and Amy Windle of Round Hill. The team was coached by 4-H volunteer leader Ann Gallus of Leesburg. The team spent three additional days in Kansas enjoying and learning about the Tall Grass Prairie ecosystem.
The contest focused on species native to Kansas, including the Greater prairie chicken, pronghorn, grasshopper sparrow, wild turkey and mourning dove. Important management practices included prescribed burning, food plots and grazing management. Kansas State University sponsored the contest. Co-sponsors included Champion International Corporation, National Rifle Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and many Kansas wildlife organizations. Konza Prairie is a Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site owned by The Nature Conservancy and dedicated to the study of the Tall Grass Prairie ecosystem. The Virginia Coast Reserve, comprised of the barrier islands off the Virginia coast, is also an LTER site. The team from Georgia won the contest, followed by Mississippi and Maryland. Virginia finished 20th. Virginia Sponsors: AA Smith Construction Blue Ridge Veterinary Services Mr. and Mrs. Roger Harrision Del. And Mrs. Joe May Izaac Walton League- Loudoun Chapter Middleburg Bank Supreme Concrete Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech Wrinkle in Time Foundation Loudoun County Fair Board Anonymous donors Special Thanks: Kelly Quertermous, parent and chaperone Marylin Jarvis, Extension Agent, Loudoun Paula Debes, Extension Agent, Fauquier Gary Hornbaker, Extension Agent, Loudoun Larry Wilkinson, NRCS, Loudoun Patricia McIlvaine, SWCD, Loudoun John Henry, NRCS, Kansas Kevin Religa, NRCS, Kansas All persons involved with the Virginia 4-H Wildlife program Aerial photograph species: Brown thrasher Eastern cottontail Pronghorn (oral reasons) Grasshopper sparrow Ring-necked pheasant Greater prairie chicken wild turkey mourning dove (oral reasons) Note: The photos were all taken in Kansas, but covered the entire state. Rural Management practices species: American kestrel Eastern cottontail Grasshopper sparrow Greater prairie chicken Mourning dove Wild turkey White-tailed deer Largemouth bass/bluegill Urban management overview: The urban plan was a city park with a small stream that went dry in summer, and an increasing starling population. The management of the park wanted to see more Northern flickers, House wrens and provide habitat for Eastern cottontail, Eastern grey squirrel and raccoon. Wildlife food identification: Insect (grasshopper) Aquatic plant (pondweed) Nut (black walnut) Grass (bluestem) Seeds (Illinois bundle grass) Buds (Ironweed flower buds) Leaves and Twigs (Honey Locust) Grain (wheat) Forbs (milkweed) Fruit (buffalo gourd)

Return to Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program