For Immediate Release

Feed Your Next Habitat Project, Not the Quail

Understanding bobs' winter needs and creating a habitat plan is long-term solution to winter survival

- January 12 -

Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and other northern reaches of the bobwhite quail range experienced harsh winter conditions at the end of 2009 and into early 2010. Because winter weather will always be a factor in these areas, Quail Forever points to NOW as the right time to start planning food & cover habitat projects for quail.

Habitat is the Key to Winter Survival If holding quail on your property and increasing winter survival rates is a main goal, creating food and cover within a short distance of each other should be a priority for any landowner. In the northern part of their range, quail often respond to harsh winter conditions by moving very little - trying to wait it out until better weather arrives. Normal winter home ranges of bobwhite quail can be from as little as 10 acres up to about 60 acres, and they tend to forage in a relatively restricted area around their covey headquarters. Radio-telemetry studies in Missouri found most quail within 70 feet of woody cover in the winter.

"Quail that might normally range over a 40-acre area during the winter months will often hunker down and stay put during prolonged periods of cold, snow and ice," says Jim Wooley, Director of Field Operations for Quail Forever, "That's why a substantial, well-designed food plot that provides both food and cover is an essential part of winter habitat management for quail."

Quail and Winter Feeding When heavy winter snows hit quail country and temperatures go into the deep freeze, questions always arise about feeding bobwhites. While feeding upland birds is a natural reaction during nasty winter weather, the practice is not without problems, including:

• Many locations for artificial feeding end up exposing quail to predation, especially those located near avian predator perch trees.
• Quail are less mobile in winter. Since they move little in tough weather, quail are probably unlikely to find an artificial food source. While this food may be used by other wildlife, it might not benefit the target species - quail.
• Trying to place food in areas very close to quail may spook the birds, causing them to relocate elsewhere and expend precious energy.

"A much better alternative to feeding is to translate this winter's terrible situation for quail and other wildlife into action this spring. Since you can't predict the tough winters, make well-designed food plots part of your regular habitat management going forward," Wooley said, "Every year, establish grain food plots that provide effective food and cover (combinations of grain and forage sorghums, millets, corn, etc.) next to important wintering areas. A food plot should be large enough to serve quail and other wildlife, and should be placed close to primary winter cover." If you're ready for a food & cover plot, Quail Forever has an entire series of specialized food plot mixes available that can be ordered online. To Order, Click Here.

In addition to spring food plot work, Quail Forever recommends establishing plum thickets and other brushy cover for covey headquarters - places where birds can loaf and sun themselves during the day. Hinge-cut cedar trees make exceptionally good brush piles for quail - the important thing to remember is that brush piles or shrub plantings should have bare ground underneath. Native grass stands also provide outstanding thermal cover for night-time roosting.

Contact Quail Forever To contact Quail Forever field staff in your area with quail habitat questions, Click Here; or contact Jim Wooley at 641-774-2238 / jwooley@quailforever.org.