Had a couple of quail in the yard.

[MossRoad]

The main problem with quail in Michigan is habitat loss due to farming, not predation. Not housing developments. Farming.

 

[oosik]

Short story. Twelve years ago I had my property ( 80 acres ) selectively logged. There were/still are many large slash piles. The following year I got all set up with my Wallenstein chipper to chip these piles. As I approached the first pile - a large flock of quail flew out. At least half, or more, of my slash piles provide homes for flocks of quail. Sooooo......I just left the piles and am glad I did. They need all the help they can get out here. Lots of hungry predators.

 

[Gary Fowler]

We had a covey of quail on the property when we bought it but they left when we started bush hogging down all the weeds and small trees in order to recover the pasture for the cows. Now we just have deer. Yesterday 4 deer walked thru my back yard at 10 am. It is rare to see them in the middle of the day in open areas like my yard. Usually they are bedded down in the woods at that time.

 

[deserteagle71]

I have had quail here since I moved here 20 some years ago. They are everywhere; they live under the pallets my firewood is stored on and under the roses bushes - anyplace the hawks can't get to them. Here, they've taken over my old picnic table in the yard..........

 

[MossRoad]

I have had quail here since I moved here 20 some years ago. They are everywhere; they live under the pallets my firewood is stored on and under the roses bushes - anyplace the hawks can't get to them. Here, they've taken over my old picnic table in the yard..........
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That's nice to see. :thumbsup:

I've heard exactly two bob whites in my life. One in my parent's yard when I was a kid. Another at a boy scout camp near here. That's it.

 

[TractorGuy]

I see a covey every now and then but not usually right in the yard. I was raised on a farm with a good pointer. Would love to have a safe place and a good dog to hunt quail with. They are tasty little critters.

Nuthin cuter than a hen with a bunch of babies in tow either. ):

 

[tcreeley]

A few winters ago here in central Maine I found bobwhite quail hiding out against one of my sheds. I spoke to it and gave it some scratch feed as I got within a few feet of him. He looked nervous. I figured he was domestic raised and released as he was so comfortable with me. Later in the day near my chicken coup I saw some quail feathers and the imprint of a hit from above. A coopers hawk probably grabbed him and took off. - No wonder he was up against one of my sheds looking nervous.

 

[MossRoad]

A few winters ago here in central Maine I found bobwhite quail hiding out against one of my sheds. I spoke to it and gave it some scratch feed as I got within a few feet of him. He looked nervous. I figured he was domestic raised and released as he was so comfortable with me. Later in the day near my chicken coup I saw some quail feathers and the imprint of a hit from above. A coopers hawk probably grabbed him and took off. - No wonder he was up against one of my sheds looking nervous.

That one reminds me of why I consider mourning doves to be nature's Snickers bar.... everything else eats it!

 

[nybirdman]

Love Bob-Whites;nice bird to have around.Unfortunately they don't survive this far North.We hatch and raise pheasant,quail and chukars.

 

[tcreeley]

We have partridge that like the apple trees, and spruce around the house and across the road. Mourning doves too. The partridge (ruffed grouse) have been around since we moved in 35 years ago. I think the road + people keep the hawks and owls at a distance and the brush/spruce/apple provide cover. For nesting - I've seen them in the wood away from everything.

Just a couple of times I've heard a pheasant up here in Maine (used to chase them down on foot as a kid in western Mass - after I heard that they were only good for 3 flights! - never made it past two to sight them again!) We used to have an occasional bobwhite too. - Southern Berkshires.