Impact of Inclement Weather on Overwinter Mortality of Montezuma Quail in Southeast Arizona

Inclement weather such as droughts or hard freezes are known to negatively impact quail species and population viability models exist which have evaluated northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) response to summer and winter catastrophes. Previous research suggests inclement weather may be an important factor that contributes to mortality of Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae), but few data have been collected to evaluate actual rates of overwinter mortality. We evaluated the overwinter mortality of Montezuma quail in southeast Arizona following an episode of severe winter weather consisting of 27.54 cm of precipitation, which occurred from January to March 2010. Overwinter mortality for radio-marked birds (n 1⁄4 23) was 95.6%. Total abundance using flush counts at a control site estimated an 88% reduction in the population following the episode of above-average precipitation. Post-hunting season flush counts across multiple study sites throughout the Coronado National Forest also support this trend. The 3-year (2007–2009) average (6 SD) (41.67 6 4.73) of birds flushed was ~ 80% higher than number of birds (n 1⁄4 8) flushed in the 2010 post-hunting season

Use of Portable Infrared Cameras to Facilitate Detection and Capture Success of Montezuma Quail

Survey and trapping methods for Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) require means not traditionally used for other quail species (e.g., northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus). Trapping Montezuma quail is most effective using pointing dogs at night when coveys can be located and captured by net during roosting. However, reduced visibility at night, cryptic coloration of plumage, and behavioral adaptive stillness reduce detection rates and increase accidental flushing of birds while searching for roost locations. Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras have been used to aid in detection of cryptic wildlife, including avifauna roosting sites. We conducted 25 survey and night-trapping sessions for Montezuma quail in southeast Arizona using a combination of trained pointing dogs and a portable FLIR camera. Detection of coveys on a roost was less successful when ambient climate conditions were freezing (below 3.88 8C), when residual heat signatures from surrounding soils and rocks were greater than 18.33 8C, or when density of grass cover exceeded 40% and the distance to covey was . 2.5 m. The small thermal signatures of quail were often obstructed by vegetative cover or confused with residual thermal signatures reflected by inanimate objects (e.g., rocks, bare ground). Successful detection of coveys combining the use of dogs and FLIR before trapping was 6.06%. Trapping success and detection of coveys with FLIR was improved when used with radiotelemetry and coveys which included radio-marked individuals. Proper tuning of FLIR camera sensitivity to a limited thermal bandwidth, or isotherm range, may effectively narrow covey locations approximated by a pointing dog. The FLIR camera was of limited benefit when actively trapping coveys with dogs and a team of 2–3 people, but may be beneficial for non-invasive monitoring and estimating covey size of marked birds on roosts in landscapes with reduced vegetative cover

Post-Fire Succession and Montezuma Quail in a Semi-Desert Grassland of Southeast Arizona

A 1,011.7-ha wildfire occurred in southeast Arizona in May 2009 and provided an opportunity to evaluate pre- and post-fire abundance of and habitat use by Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) through use of flush surveys and radiotelemetry. We evaluated movements of radio-marked quail from 2 months prior to the burn to 12 months post-burn. We observed strong site fidelity with coveys persisting in small patches of unburned areas and micro-topography, despite extensive reduction in cover in the surrounding landscape. We documented 46.7% reduction in abundance using flush counts within the first 2 weeks post-fire, and 66.7% reduction within 3 weeks post-fire. We also documented roosting within a fire-affected area and successful nesting by Montezuma quail a few months following a wildfire

Ranges and Movements of Montezuma Quail in Southeast Arizona

Historical assumptions about Montezuma quail movements and home ranges at the population level are limited due to the lack of markrecapture studies on this species from which solid conclusions can be derived. Such information is crucial for estimating population sizes, densities, and rate of emigration and immigration throughout the landscape. Our study examined home range size of 29 Montezuma quail and movements of 65 quail in southeast Arizona from 2008–2010. We used radio telemetry to follow radio-tagged birds in 3 study sites that varied in vegetation composition and topography. Mean home range size (MCP) was about was similar (51 ha) to the largest use area (50 ha) described in the literature for this species. The largest MCP home range estimate (206.7 ha) was far larger than what has been reported in the literature. Within a season, the largest mean maximum distance moved between 2 locations was 1,128.4 ± 619.5 m and the largest maximum linear distance between 2 locations for an individual was 2,375.5 m. Results from our research should help to address knowledge gaps about Montezuma quail home ranges and movements and provide a baseline to assist management of this species in the future

Survival Demographics of Montezuma Quail in Southeast Arizona

Many facets of Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae mearnsi) population dynamics, such as survival and causes of mortality, are unknown because of limited or lack of mark–recapture studies on wild populations of this species. Much of what is known about this species comes from casual observations in the field or from dog-assisted flush-count surveys. Further insight into rate and causes of mortality for this species is necessary to ensure proper conservation measures. We evaluated survival and causes of mortality of Montezuma quail in southeastern Arizona from winter 2007 to spring 2010. Survival was determined from quail captured, radiotagged, and monitored among 3 separate study sites. In 2 of these sites hunting was permitted; and in 1 site (the control) hunting was not permitted. Estimation of accurate mortality rates in hunted sites was complicated by large quantities of censored data, some of which was attributable to lack of reported mortalities from hunting. Mortality in the control site may have been compounded by a combination of stochastic events (i.e., wildfire, freezing) occurring during the study. Mortality rate for all sites were higher than any estimates reported or hypothesized in known scientific literature. The estimated rate of survival, combined among the 3 sites, was 21.9% from autumn 2008 to autumn 2009

Characteristics of Hunter Harvested Montezuma Quail Wings and Implications for Molt Phenology

We obtained 1,899 hunter-harvested Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) wings from southeastern Arizona, USA, from the 2008–2009 hunting season. We determined age and sex based on plumage characteristics for 98.2% (1,864) of the original sample. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of wing-chord length found differences (P \u3c 0.001) based on sex, but not age, with mean (± standard error) male wing chord (113.76 ± 0.15 mm) longer than mean female wing chord (111.03 ± 0.13 mm). Mean male and female wing-chord lengths from our study population were 6.8% and 7.7% shorter, respectively, than previously reported in the literature. We additionally calculated a complete prebasic molt cycle of 177 days based on previously reported preformative molt patterns. The primary benefits of our results are: 1) a more accurate sex-based wing-chord length based on a large sample size, 2) a method to back-calculate molt onset dates for hunter harvested after hatch year Montezuma quail, and 3) a potential means to model the influence of precipitation on population dynamics of Montezuma quail