Quail habitat

Page 17 Habitat key to building quail population

By LEN PATTON

In the movie, “Field of Dreams,” a young Iowa farmer has a dream that if he converts his cornfield into a baseball diamond, ballplayers from the past and present will come to play. The dream was created and produced in a Hollywood studio.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have a movie studio to realize our dream of bringing healthy quail populations back to Missouri? We know that many good things are born from a dream. We also know that in our state, we can achieve our dream only through a good management plan and hard work, not through the magic of a Hollywood studio.

How do we build it so they will come? In the world of real estate, the three key words are “location, location, location.” In quail management the words are “habitat, habitat, habitat.” Unlike other game animals in Missouri that have been able to grow in numbers and adapt to a changing environment, quail have been unable to survive when their habitat is altered,

THE SEVEN NEEDS

Quail have seven basic needs. It all begins with food, but not just any food (not fescue.) Without quality food throughout the year, quail mortality can reach or exceed 80 percent.

Legumes with high protein levels are needed during the nesting season, April through September. During this time the chicks will get most of their food from insects, which are also high in protein. From October to March, survival depends on high-energy foods that produce fat and warmth. We must keep in mind that quail are small and need most of their food either at ground level or no more than several inches high.

All animals need water, but quail have the ability to survive on small amounts of water, which they can gain from insects, berries, dew, frost, snow and rain puddles. Providing sources of water for quail is not necessary, but landowners should supply

Quail roost in grass, weedy patches or open woods without overhead cover. – MDC photo

open, bare ground for quail to forage, and dust, which is vital for quail to maintain good health.

Nesting and brooding habitat can be achieved by developing a mix of erect grasses (not fescue), scattered shrubs, and brambles that provide shelter and overhead protection. These vegetated areas should not be so thick that the young chicks are unable to move about in search of insects. Quail are extremely vulnerable during the nesting and brooding stages, with mortality reaching as much as 50 percent or more.

ROOSTING HABITATS

The usual characteristics of quail roosting habitats, which occur from sundown to sunup, are misunderstood and overlooked in many management plans. These birds roost on the ground in grass (not fescue), weedy patches or open woods without overhead cover.

If they have the need to flush during this time, they want to rise up and move with no overhead interference. Quail face the challenge of escape on a daily basis. They may sit still, run or fly when faced with danger. Every plan must include escape opportunities such as well-constructed brush piles, timber, weedy fence rows, berry patches and other thickets. Quail will often use these same areas at mid-day to rest. These areas are commonly called covey headquarters. Under severe weather conditions they may be used for roosting.

A good plan is developed with one simple idea – keep it close. All aspects of quail habitat should be arranged so the birds can meet their needs with minimal effort and exposure to predators. It can be done, and it will not cost a great deal of money. “Build it and they will come.”

During nesting season, chicks get most of their food from high-protein insects. – MDC photo