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Abstract
Monitoring populations over time and space is needed to assess management efficacy and inform harvest regimes. Surveys of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) covey calls are frequently used by managers because of their relative simplicity and cost convenience. However, these methods need validation and refinement. Quadrat counts, with multiple observers, are thought to improve estimates, particularly in areas with relatively high population densities. We deployed field sampling techniques for spatial capture-recapture, in conjunction with single and multiple-observer call survey methods, to estimate bobwhite density and evaluate survey approaches. Our results show that, at higher densities, point counts tend to yield mean estimates higher than mean estimates of quadrat counts. These results support the use of quadrat surveys over point counts in areas of higher densities.