Posts tagged with quail. View all posts

Pillars of Knowledge in Quail Management: R-Selection

In the book “Texas Quails,” the authors discuss the scientific aspects of quail management and highlight four knowledge-based tenets which should inform any quail management decision. These “pillars of knowledge” include r-selection, successional affiliation, adaptive plasticity, and weather influences. In this new blog series, we will look at each of these pillars individually and explain why they should be the fundamental tools for any quail-minded manager.

Spotlight on Quail Predators: Raptors

Raptors, a.k.a. “birds of prey,” include eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and many other species. The term raptor is derived from the Latin word rapio, meaning to seize or take by force; this is quite apt as raptors will often swoop down and seize prey with their large talons. But which species are the main predators of quail?

Meet the Gambel's Quail

Gambel’s quail are less common in Texas than northern bobwhites and scaled quail, but they're a fascinating species and excellent desert survivalists. Learn more about the habits and habitat of the Gambel's quail in this article.

The Economic Value of Hunting

A lot of money changes hands when hunters pursue their passion, and in the state of Texas, those funds support rural economies, public resources, and even wildlife conservation. Quail hunting in particular is a significant economic stimulus. This article explains how that money makes its way all across the state and gets to the bottom line.

Coping with the Cold

Winters in the Lone Star State can be harsh, especially for a 6 inch tall, ground-dwelling bird. Quail faced increased pressure from predators, food scarcity, and frigid temperatures in the winter, but they also have a unique set of behaviors and adaptations for dealing with those challenges. Learn more in this article.

Texas Quail Index 2017 Summary

This year’s Texas Quail Index (TQI) featured 26 cooperators representing 7 of the 10 Texas ecoregions. TQI participants are asked to conduct a series of demonstrations which include listening for whistling roosters in the spring, setting out “dummy” (i.e., simulated) nests and game cameras to evaluate predator activity, examining quail habitat, and counting birds along roads. Read more to see the statewide results summarized. 

A Story Map: Habitat Requirements of Texas Quails

A Texas Land Trends Story Map: Texas is home to four species of quails: Northern Bobwhite, Scaled Quail, Gambel’s Quail, and Montezuma Quail. Many Texans fondly recall experiences with quail, whether they were hunting or watching them, or just listening to their songs. Despite the interest in these quail species, their overall abundance, especially northern bobwhites, have declined over the past few decades. Recent research efforts seek to determine what factors have and continue to contribute to the decline of quail in Texas.