“The call of the bobwhite quail is heard during spring and summer months and is often associated with wild areas. The habitat community that bobwhite quail are dependent upon for their existence is quickly disappearing. Early successional habitats, those dominated by grasses, weeds and shrubs, are essential for quail to thrive.
“The loss and conversion of early successional habitat has resulted in an 80 percent decline in quail numbers since the 1960s. At one time quail were just a product of local land uses. Small agricultural farms, fallow fields, grown up fence rows and mature open woods maintained by frequent fire provided optimal habitat for bobwhites. Over the years, many row crop areas were replaced with improved pastures, converted to timber or developed by growing populations. Mature open canopy timber stands were harvested and replaced with younger thicker stands and fire was often being excluded from pine stands.”
To read more of Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries wildlife biologist Jim Schrenkel’s story in the Courier Journal Online, click HERE.
