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What you can do to help save our native quail populations!
It is a sad thing for sure, our quail have a failing population. A species that was once abundant has now started down the road of the passenger pigeon. Yet, even under such dire circumstances there is a ray of hope. You, alone, by yourself can help their failing populations! Creating a quail habitat really isn't all that hard. When you master this plan, you won't only be helping quail, you will help other native species as well.
Management of all four seasons is important for proper habitat.
Seasons.
BooobWHITE! (well, not really)
Spring and Summer.
Fall.
Winter.
Another thing you should take into consideration, your pets. Quail are pretty defenseless creatures and your dogs and cats will kill them if given the chance. It isn't their fault, it's in their nature to do so. Try to keep your pets contained. It's safer for the quail and it's safer for them. Pesticides are OUT. Don't kill the bugs your quail need to eat, it's a bit counterproductive. lol The same goes for herbicides, try to be as green as you can and your covey will thank you!
Let's not forget good plants for our feathered friends!
Quail get it from all sides. Foxes, cats, dogs, pigs, wolves, coyotes go after them on the ground while hawks and eagles and owls aim from the sky. It is little wonder why this feathered punching bag loves briars so much. Who wants to stick a beak or tender nose in a writhing pile of thorns? Not I! Not to mention they eat the fruit off these plants as well. Small wonder too their love of bunching grasses to help conceal them as they forage for seeds and insects. These plants not only offer protection from predators, but from the sun, wind, rain and snow as well. Wouldn't it be nice to know you gave a family a home? I bet they'd sure appreciate it.
By planting wiregrasses you afford your quail the correct places to nest and hide. Though you may not want it in your lawn, these bunching grasses are really something you shouldn't do without when planning a quail habitat.
The trick is to plant things that won't inhibit quail movement. Planting briars and similar brush helps protect the birds while allowing free movement.
Don't forget the water!
Controlled burning of unused farmland can help with the restoration of quality quail habitat.
Quail are small birds with stubby legs. It's a small wonder they can get around at all. In order to give the best chance for success for your quail you must plant accordingly. Their babies are so tiny even a blade of grass can trip them, so they need areas that allow ease of movement without removing plenty of cover. It really isn't as hard as it sounds though!
Quail naturally make their homes in brambly cover, places hard for many other creatures to navigate. This protects them from foxes and other predators. It is easy for humans to remove these "pesky" weeds from our fields, almost as easy as erradicating our precious quail population. Extremely thick vegetation creates a problem for quail as it makes it nearly impossible for them to forage and basically to move. Controlled burning can help rejuevenate the landscape, then if you disk the soil you will no doubt turn up many helpful NATIVE weeds these birds thrive on.
Special thanks to Wikipedia.org and PlantFiles for the use of their photos!
About Jocelyn Wyatt
Mother and wife, (in no particular order) Jocelyn Wyatt was born Northwest Florida right smack-dab in the middle of swampland where she gained her love for nature the hard way.
"Make it a pet or let it make you lunch!"
Her love for all wild things living as well as for art and writing was nurtured by her wonderful family.
"To them and God I owe everything. "
Posted by owley (from Tampa, FL) on August 22, 2008 at 11:59 AM:
I was able to find baby chicks for sale in Dade City, Florida. Alas, there are too many outdoor cats in my neighborhood in Tampa, Florida. :(
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 22, 2008 at 12:07 PM:
Awe. :-( You could always keep a few as pets and pretend they're wild. lol Turn an entire bedroom into a mini quail habitat. :-D
I smell a future article taking place hehe.
I used to live in Dade City, lol.
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Posted by MitchF (from Lindsay, OK) on August 22, 2008 at 12:38 PM:
There is a great inclosed habitat of Quail at the Oklahoma City Zoo, they are wildish and in a cage on all sides and top so they can run and be free. It would be a great way to have quail without having wild quail until there are less cats in the area.
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 22, 2008 at 12:42 PM:
I bet that would be something to see Mitch. Animals are so great, especially when people try to give them their own natural spaces.
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Posted by MitchF (from Lindsay, OK) on August 22, 2008 at 12:46 PM:
It really is - I had tought about talking to them for an article and having people do the same thing in their yards, they have a lot of the native birds this way with the paths you walk in with the birds and no problems, just double doors. I want quail baddly when we get settled again, but to eat the eggs like I did back int he days of childhood at the family home place - gooooood eating and this is more less what I plan on doing for them to live in. Very wild like in a protected spot with nothing getting in or out!
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 22, 2008 at 12:56 PM:
That would make an awesome article Mitch.
Ive never had quail eggs but have heard of them being good eatin`. Maybe I need to check our farmers market and think about raising some for food. Planning on chickens next year and maybe a few peacocks (I like white meat LOL) so why not quail as well!
They would have a better success rate in rearing their young in a more natural state I'd say. Now you got me hungry for roasted quail with quail egg dressing LOL! Can't say I'd wanna peel those tiny eggs though LOL!
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Posted by MitchF (from Lindsay, OK) on August 22, 2008 at 1:00 PM:
Oh they are worth the effort! Peacock... to est? Are they good? Chickens are a coming must - we eat more eggs than meat but home grown eggs are soooo good...
I keep this article printed out just to keep the quail in mind - got to have my quail one of these days...
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 22, 2008 at 1:26 PM:
Well, Ive never actually eaten peacock but Ive had so many people tell me they are good and are white meat that I was like, oh yeah, imma get me some LOL!!
They're expensive but, Id get a few hens and a cock and then they'd have babies pretty well I think.
Just growin` them up to eating size, I wouldn't be worried about pretty feathers. They're annoying though, I hate the noises they make LOL!
Loud piercing and constant, lol. I guess if they are TOO annoying I can always put`em in the pot to end the peacock venture, LOL.
You'll get your quail!
Fresh chickens eggs are really the main reason I want chickens, youre right they are sooo good.
Maybe next year, I gotta build a very very sturdy pen, we have weasles and foxes and coons galore here.
Heh, we even almost had tigers/lions when a local 'zoo' didn't have their animals properly/legally contained!
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Posted by MitchF (from Lindsay, OK) on August 22, 2008 at 1:48 PM:
Please do write about foxes, how to get them and keep them happy in the wild... so many animals like that are gone in so many areas.
White meat ... gonna get me some peacocks!
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 22, 2008 at 2:23 PM:
Ill add it to my list, thanks for the idea!
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Posted by MitchF (from Lindsay, OK) on August 22, 2008 at 2:25 PM:
Anything to do with wildlife - you are doing a great job - keep it up!
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 22, 2008 at 2:42 PM:
TY so much, it means a whole lot! I added it to the thread, I need to reorganize it lol. I think some of my titles are confusing.
You'll do wildlife ones too right?
K , I;'m off ta clean my nasty house! lol
Would hate for hubby to kick me out to live with the quail and foxes hehe.
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Posted by MitchF (from Lindsay, OK) on August 22, 2008 at 2:47 PM:
A few - I focus on a lot of Natives, or rather I try to do a lot of natives.
I for one like your titles.
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 22, 2008 at 2:51 PM:
Natives are great, I may look through your articles for plants to add to the wildlife lists if ya dont care. Ill give credit.
TY, I'm just afraid 'smooshify' may be too casual LOL. I may add it to the article not the title.
K , really off this time! LOL SO hard to tear myself away from talking here and the macro photo page LOL.
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Posted by MitchF (from Lindsay, OK) on August 22, 2008 at 3:18 PM:
I dont care - and if you find a plant that just NEEDS an article... let me know nad I can get to work on it.
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 22, 2008 at 4:09 PM:
Oh I'm sure ill stumble across one or two to give ya'z hehe. I'mma start my researching again tonight or maybe Ill just get more organzied then start tomorrow, lol. My computer has too many thousands of pictures, need to start weeding them out, lmbo.
Thanks!
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Posted by MitchF (from Lindsay, OK) on August 22, 2008 at 4:15 PM:
:-) Get to it, your fans are waiting!
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 22, 2008 at 4:19 PM:
hehe :)
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Subject: to order eggs
Posted by wormfood (from Lecanto, FL) on August 20, 2008 at 4:00 PM:
Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 20, 2008 at 5:35 PM:
Ohh Imma bookmark this one for later! TY for sharing.
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Subject: Star thistle!!!??
Posted by Wic7ita (from Fairmont, NE) on August 20, 2008 at 12:54 PM:
Birds love it, but then it spreads too well and upsets any balance of nature. Invasive.
Avoid. It's a cruel imported (exotic) weed. Check around.
Wic7ita
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 20, 2008 at 1:39 PM:
Callllllllllllllllllllm down! lol
I removed the plant.
Sorry ya'll!
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Subject: Thanks for the reminder
Posted by wormfood (from Lecanto, FL) on August 19, 2008 at 5:25 PM:
I used to hatch eggs from McMurry Hatchery. It's pretty cheap if you have the incubator with rotator. My very first baby drowned in a peanut butter lid of water. There wasn't as much info on the web as there is now. Long story short, my last quail, her mate died, and I released her. A couple of days later she startled me. She came back and brought a whole bunch of wild ones with her. They were grubbin' some food. nancy
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 19, 2008 at 8:35 PM:
Oh man, what a neat story!!
I would have been thrilled to have my baby bring back her friends. She was prolly all like,,,
"I know this nice lady, she will feed us and let us play in her gardens". Then of course they said "Oh wow, lets go!"
I wana order a bunch of stuff outta McMurry, chickens and quail and phsants and ducks and oh my EVERYTHING!
Gotta beat hubby into submission first though!
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Posted by wormfood (from Lecanto, FL) on August 20, 2008 at 3:24 PM:
Talk about thrilled I just saw 2 fly out of a thicket this morning. I thought they were all gone the last 3 years. I was thinking the ants are getting the babies, we have so many fire ants.
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 20, 2008 at 3:36 PM:
I hate fireants, sheesh. I am so glad you found your quail though! Keep us updated on any more progress, this is so exciting!
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Subject: Nice
Posted by phicks (from Lakeland, FL) on August 18, 2008 at 4:31 PM:
Nice Article Paul
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 18, 2008 at 5:22 PM:
Thank Paul!
It was a lot of fun to research and write.
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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on August 18, 2008 at 5:23 PM:
Thanks for the info! My Dad said that some organization was offering monetary incentives for people to build quail habitat on their property--this was a couple years ago. I'll have to ask him who it was, and see if that is still in effect.
By briars, do you mean the wild berries? The wild grandiflora roses are too invasive here, and I've been trying to get rid of those. I'd love to have more of the berries, though.
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Posted by phicks (from Lakeland, FL) on August 18, 2008 at 6:28 PM:
Crimsom what kind of birds do you have?
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 18, 2008 at 10:41 PM:
Wild berries are fine too KW, would give them something good to eat as well as protection! Ohh it would be nice to be able to include information like that in the article. Definitely post back here if ya find out something KW!
Right now phicks I don't have any birds, :-(. But I used to keep everything from verioles to bluejays and golden pheasants, lol. just loooooooooooooove animals and always have had one or another in jocie rehab over the years, lol. Shoot, even had a gator and a rattler once as well. :-O
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Posted by phicks (from Lakeland, FL) on August 19, 2008 at 9:15 AM:
AZ King
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Posted by KaperC (from No. San Diego Co., CA) on August 19, 2008 at 1:10 PM:
Nice article. We had quail when we moved here four years ago, but haven't seen any for more than two years now. We have planted some of the things you recommend and hope they come back. We think it's a combination of land development and the blocking of the path they used to take to our property. I've even thought of buying some native quail now that the coyote population is down!
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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on August 19, 2008 at 1:31 PM:
You can buy them? From where? That would be fun to start your own flock!
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 19, 2008 at 1:41 PM:
Weeeee I shoulda added this link before .
[HYPERLINK@www.mcmurrayhatchery.com]
Imma order from them when we can afford it. I have a nice wooden shed they could bed down in and everything.
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Posted by phicks (from Lakeland, FL) on August 19, 2008 at 1:49 PM:
I use to Raise Quail And phestants
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 19, 2008 at 1:57 PM:
Ohh do tell!
I had a golden pheasant that was just great and some bobwhites I raised form hatchlings. That is about it though.
The quail were so much fun lol. I wanna do a quail habitat on our place but Im afraid our foxes will eat them all up. I love our foxes..maybe if I did it just right I could have both LOL. That's another article for another day!
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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on August 19, 2008 at 6:42 PM:
I found this link about the incentives offered for those establishing quail habitat on their land: [HYPERLINK@www.fsa.usda.gov]
Edit: It's dated 2004, so I don't know if it's still in effect.
This message was edited Aug 19, 2008 6:43 PM
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Posted by penelopesue (from Paso Robles, CA) on August 19, 2008 at 7:17 PM:
PLEASE don't plant star thistle! It's not a native plant to the United States. I have quail they love pomagrate's.
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Posted by cactuspatch (from La Luz/Alamogordo, NM) on August 19, 2008 at 7:54 PM:
Good article. We have tons of quail in my area, and on our property. We keep our cats inside, except for supervised visits to play. I have seen the quail eating bugs off my tomatoes and leave the tomatos for me. They eat some of the strawberries and I have even had them nest in my daylilies. They are so fun to watch and I enjoy living with them. The snakes eat a lot of the eggs though, I guess it is all part of nature's plan.
This message was edited Aug 20, 2008 8:07 AM
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 19, 2008 at 8:32 PM:
Did I say plant a non-native? If I did I retract my statement! LOL
Ohh I bet that is sooo nice to watch cactus! Those lil stubby legged birdies hopping to get a tasty bug hehe.
Good link KY, I'm sure a person could email the author and ask if its still in effect. Didn't see Tn on the list though, sighhhhhhhh. lol
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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on August 19, 2008 at 8:44 PM:
I saw that it said to contact one's local FSA. Maybe the local extension service?
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 19, 2008 at 9:10 PM:
I bet that would work. Im already thinking about my next wildlife restoration project article lol. Just gotta figure out which species.. butteflies have been done to death, I need something different and cheeky! Hurrrmmmmmmm
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Posted by KaperC (from No. San Diego Co., CA) on August 20, 2008 at 3:31 PM:
Oh, great, another reason to plant pomegranates!
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Posted by crimsontsavo (from Crossville, TN) on August 20, 2008 at 3:34 PM:
Not to mention they eat the fruit off these plants as well. Small wonder too their love of bunching grasses to help conceal them as they forage for seeds and insects. These plants not only offer protection from predators, but from the sun, wind, rain and snow as well. Wouldn't it be nice to know you gave a family a home? I bet they'd sure appreciate it. 
