Native Quail

Spent the weekend bush hogging and clearing trees from roads. Driving along one of the recently cleared roads we had a covey of native quail cross in front of us. Probably 10 birds. We have several coveys and I always hope they survive, so it is always great to see them. This group was in an area of 40 year old thinned and burned pines. Never seen them on that part of property before. Hope they are expanding.

We have quite a few on our place as well. Can't help but grin when I hear one .

So great to hear stories like this. I wish we could find And support ways to promote their return in numbers statewide.

I have made a real effort to improve my quail habitat over the last years and believe it has made a difference.I started planting summer crops and plant a 30' wide perimeter around the field with a 5-way mix geared to provide cover and food for them.I have also slowly been widening all my road edges to at least the distance my sprayer will go so I can keep them clear of woody stems like Sweetgum, I burn and clear cut cut small tracts every few years to keep some early succession areas available for deer and Quail.The result is there are several coveys using the place and I see/hear them all the time.Last trip up I busted a covey which had close to 30 birds in it which is something I have never seen.I will never hunt them but sure love having them around.

This is what I am shooting for along my roads and small plot perimeters





And this is what I do around the main field.



IThe end result is lots of food and proper cover for them, at least in my small part of the world.

They are rare around here

We don't have wild birds, but there are occasional stragglers from put/take birds.

We usually have around 3-4 wild coveys. Love seeing them, but it scares the chit out of me every time I bust a covey.

I almost chit myself this past weekend when I busted a couple coveys. One of them busted, flew away and then about fifteen minutes later they were right back within 15 yards of where I was sitting.

I have found about 7 coveys at our club. They range from 5-6 birds to a couple that are 15+ birds.

Use to hunt em with my dad when i was young man they wasnt anything better than walking up behind those dogs locked down

Always had them around the fields growing up but haven’t seen a covey in probably 30 years
I did hear 3-4 calling in a cutover at the club a few months ago

Until you figure out a strategy to limit the number of hawks, owl, Bobcats, coyotes, coons, and FIREANTS I'm afraid those numbers won't come back.

Rare here for sure, saw a covey a couple weeks ago.

I haven't seen one on our farm in a decade or longer.

I’ve busted 3 diff coveys this year on our place, most we’ve ever had since we got it, and I haven’t really been in what I consider to be “birdy places” much yet so I’m very encouraged that they may be attempting a comeback.

I saw a covey last weekend. At least twenty birds. They took a dust bath in front of the running tractor at about twenty yards for a good five minutes. I was sure I filmed them but in my haste, I screwed it up somehow. I didn't have my glasses with me so I probably missed the little red button. Have only seen them once before and only saw about 5 as they crossed a road. I do have a really crappy video of one of them - lol.

I haven't seen a covey in 10 or more years around here and I was shocked as hell when I saw those. I did hear one whistle this spring looking for a mate.

It's wonderful to see them again. Still spooks the crap out of me when I bust a covey.