Quail Coming Back?

[Stoneroller]

yes, if a coyote comes along, anything that can't escape from it, is getting eaten, but isn't grandma's ankle biter, chained helplessly in the yard on a daily/nightly basis the easiest meal of all? yet nobody has to stand out in the yard and fend off the attacking hordes of coyotes. I'm not saying they don't eat an occasional bird, but think about that for a minute. coyote is a dog, in what ecosystem are dogs major predators of birds that can fly?

If quails had the habitat they need, there would be so many of them, coyotes could feast on them all day and not hurt the population. Humans are what screw up the natural process of things, usually by destroying something.

[ness]

yes, if a coyote comes along, anything that can't escape from it, is getting eaten, but isn't grandma's ankle biter, chained helplessly in the yard on a daily/nightly basis the easiest meal of all? yet nobody has to stand out in the yard and fend off the attacking hordes of coyotes. I'm not saying they don't eat an occasional bird, but think about that for a minute. coyote is a dog, in what ecosystem are dogs major predators of birds that can fly?

If quails had the habitat they need, there would be so many of them, coyotes could feast on them all day and not hurt the population. Humans are what screw up the natural process of things, usually by destroying something.

Quail have a lot of predators. Coyote, raccoons, snakes, bobcats, foxes, turkeys, squirrels, you name it. Not all of them can fly. Predation is greatest at the nest -- eggs or chicks.

I think the rest is pretzel logic. If there was habitat, quail would be plentiful, coyotes, the same ones you claim rarely eat quail, would eat quail, but it wouldn't make a difference, because of the habitat?

I've read a lot on the whole quail thing, and it's not completely a habitat issue. It's the single issue people latch onto, but there's more going on. The whole mix of wildlife has changed over the last 50 years. Turkey and deer are back in abundance. Quail are down. I tend to think there's a connection.

On the habitat side, you're correct -- plowing to the road is a major factor. But, pesticide and herbicide use is up, pastures have been converted to fescue. Quail eat bugs and seeds. CRP is reverting back to cropland at a very fast pace due to reduced payments and an incentive to grow corn on every available patch of land.

[Feathers and Fins]

I wish Quail would come back strong, But I do not see it happening. The above ground predators are a factor but now tack in the Raptors. I watched several quail taken last year on Shawnee by raptors. Then tack on the insane hunting presure they get and I highly doubt they will come back. We had perfect breeding conditions this year so I expect to see more.

Unfortunately closing hunting at noon or 1pm doesnt help when I see guys running 4 pointers or even more over the same area every day. Sad to say but I do not think until MDC puts serious attention and focus to quail restoration and that probably needs to include closing conservation areas for awhile or shortening the seasons and or days they can be hunted the quail population have little to no chance.

[Justin Spencer]

I have noticed that too, many more birds than in the past. I had one in the yard the other day, came out of a local pasture. Several were whistling the other day when we were fishing a creek. I see more along the roads lately too. But they are singles and pairs, no coveys.

Right now the hens should be nesting with the boys still horny so I don't think you will see any coveys right now.

[Chase Replogle]

Man, love to hear these stories of seeing coveys.

Chase -- where is your Brittany coming from?

Ness,

My Brittany is coming out of a litter from my dad's dog and a hunting friend of his in Jefferson City.

[ness]

Sweet -- keeping it in the family!

Here's a couple pics to whet your appetite:

After a full day in western Kansas:

The day our pup learned the concepts of "deep" and "slippery"

[Quillback]

You folks might find this link interesting:

http://bringbackbobwhites.org/

[daboone]

Quail have a lot of predators. ..., turkeys, ..., you name it. None of them can fly. Predation is greatest at the nest -- eggs or chicks.

Turkey and deer are back in abundance. Quail are down. I tend to think there's a connection.

Turkeys are zero threat to quail. No studies have found any quail chicks in the crop of turkeys, this is just heresay that people keep speading because it "makes sense" to them. You also included the deer population as a connection ?? do you think the deer are stepping on the nests?

Habitat and weather are the 2 main contributing factors to the demise/success of Bobwhite quail!

[ness]

Welcome to the forum daboone.

Zero threat is kinda hard to prove, wouldn't you say? I'm aware that there's no proof that turkey eat quail chicks -- it's a tired old argument. Regardless, I was replying to statements made about predators in another post. I do think about anything that stumbles onto a nest of quail chicks or eggs is a potential predator. Eggs is tasty!

The rise in deer and turkey populations is connected to the decline in quail, and it's because of habitat. Brushy edges have given way to more forested areas, and that favors turkey and deer to the detriment of quail. And, as I said in another post -- fescue, insecticide and herbicide use all contribute as well. As does weather.

[daboone]

Thanks for the welcome!

Yes zero threat is hard to prove, it is impossible to watch every turkey. A meadowlark is zero threat to quail yet it cant be proven. Have you seen turkeys eat quail or stomp on the nests? Im curious why people keep bringing up this opinion. And you are the first person that I have ever heard bring up squirrels as predators of quail...

On a brighter note, the weather has been extremely favorable to quail hatching in Missouri this year.