Bob White Quail

[jaxs]

Texas had a healthy population of Bob White up to early 80s then completely disappeared from majority of state by 1990 and population in the South-West where they survived dropped to as little as 10% of past. I understand quail disappeared from other areas. I'm interested in hearing past and present status where you are and what researchers are saying.

 

[dodge man]

In Western Illinois I see them once in a while but it’s a once or twice a year thing. They used to be more common 30 years ago. I’ve heard the turkeys being introduced has hurt their population because the turkeys break the quails eggs. I don’t know if that’s true or not.

 

[MotorSeven]

Does their population timeline decline match the invasive insidious fire ant invasion?

 

[Tinhack]

They're at/or under my bird feeders all the time. They don't fly up to the feeders. They usually bring the whole family in the spring. They keep coming back. This is pretty much a sanctuary for them. A lot of high grass in some areas. I've had to stop countless times in the driveway to let them pass. I put out corn, bird seed and fresh water every day. The other birds will practically land on your shoulder to hurry you up. I see them hopping up and down on the tree branches as if complaining that I'm taking too long to refill the feeders. It a riot.

Just had a hog eating the peanut butter and bread this morning. I put it out for the Kit Foxes. Even a few cats show up and eat it. I've had hogs, cats, foxes all eating at the same time. It's quite a menagerie here at times.

 

[paulsharvey]

In Western Illinois I see them once in a while but it’s a once or twice a year thing. They used to be more common 30 years ago. I’ve heard the turkeys being introduced has hurt their population because the turkeys break the quails eggs. I don’t know if that’s true or not.

So, as everything it's more than one cause. Avian Flu, coyotes, House Cats, ecr. People in bird community are some of the few that recognize just how destructive fertile cats are, and there aren't any real control measures, because they are cute and fluffy. Yes, there are some small cat and neuter programs, but not anything on the large scale elimination front.

 

[lman]

I've heard that they started disappearing around here when farms got larger and fence rows were removed resulting in loss of habitat

 

[HawkinsHollow]

There is a MeatEater podcast about this exact same subject. I have not listened to it but here is the link to the Youtube video of it. Let us know what you learned! BTW discussion of Quail doesn't start until 25 mins in

 

[Barry 1]

Had lots of them here in northern KY ,until the blizzard of '78 and haven't seen or heard any since.

 

[Riding a Relic]

We have them here, in East Central Alabama. We also have them on the other farm down there in North Central Fl every year, the little ones following behind their hen. I hear them here in Alabama every year but rarely see them, on my place.

 

[oosik]

I've got several, very healthy, families of CA Topknot quail here on the property. They seem to get along with the turkeys very well. They find year-round shelter in the old stump/slash piles from when I had the property selectively harvested.

Bob White - not in this part of the country.