The Population and Habitat of the Bobwhite Quail

1. The Population and Habitat of the Bobwhite Quail Brandon Selvog Undergraduate in Wildlife and Fisheries Science Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tn 38501

2. Project Summary • The Northern Bobwhite Quail is one of the most sought after game birds in the southeast. Due to the major reduction of their habitat, the quail population has been on the decline. • The objective is to test two warm season grass fields (sunflower and lespedeza) and two fescue fields for quail populations in each. This will provide adequate information for which type field quail need for food, cover, and breeding.

3. Summary • The method consists of observing both types of fields (that are similar in acreage) and record the number of quail flushed multiplied by two to count for the birds that don’t flush. • The expected results of this experiment will be that a higher a number of quail are using the warm season grasses significantly more than the other fields.

4. Introduction/Background • On many farms and in numerous localities the birds have become fewer, even to the vanishing point (Davison 1949). • Some ardent wildlife conservationists accepted the knowledge that bobwhites find many kinds of food on idle fields (Davison 1949).

5. Introduction Cont. • Disking retards broomsedge and trees, favoring lespedezas, beggarweeds, ragweeds, sunflowers, and partridge peas (Davison 1949). • All lespedezas, or brush clovers, wherever they occur in abundance, are of great value as quail- food producing plants (Stoddard 1950).

6. Introduction Cont. • Increasing the number of warm season grasses will significantly increase the numbers of the northern bobwhite quail. • Not only will it help the quail, but numerous other birds and mammals will be supplied with food, cover, and breeding areas.

7. Objective/Hypothesis • Objective: To test two warm season grass fields and two fescue fields for the population of quail. This will give adequate information for which type field quail need for food, cover, and breeding. • Hypothesis: Quail will choose the fields with warm season grasses because the other fields do not provide the essentials for their type of habitat.

8. Methods and Materials • The method used to observe the fields will consist of walking in rows (starting at the edge) through the field spaced every 10-15 feet while recording the number of quail flushed multiplied by two to count for the birds that don’t flush. • The experiment was conducted at the sunflower field and tall fescue field on the same morning. The lespedeza field and another tall fescue field were also observed on the same day.

9. Methods and Materials • All fields were experimented under similar weather conditions in late September and early October. • Data Form

10. Fields 1 & 2 5 acres in size Planted in warms season grasses (sunflower and lespedeza). A significantly higher amount of quail will be observed in these areas. Fields 3 & 4 5 acres in size Planted mostly in tall fescue. Fewer quail will be observed in these areas. Expected Results

11. Project Timeline

12. Budget • $100- Nonexpendable • $200- Travel • $250- Indirect Costs • $300- Benefits • $1,000- Salary & Wages • $1,500- Expendables