Arizona Quail: Species in Jeopardy?

We begin the 21st century with the Midwestern northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) range reduced to a small portion of its historic distribution. This precipitous decline occurred largely during the last quarter of the 20th century, coincident with widespread intensive agricultural land use, unchecked natural plant succession, and frequent severe weather. Various bobwhite enthusiasts of the 1960s–1980s era including Klimstra, Dumke and Stanford had evaluated agricultural land use trends and predicted the near demise of bobwhites that we now lament. Alarmed upland bird hunters have repeatedly spurred policy makers and administrators into action. However, because bobwhites still are only an incidental product of modern agriculture, the potential for reversing declining population trends is limited. Moreover, as society and the wildlife profession become progressively less interested in consumptive uses of wildlife, the political will to appropriate agency resources for bobwhites per se is disappearing. Such a pattern has been seen in the Midwest where bobwhite conservation has become a marginal issue on the periphery of the species’ range (e.g., Ia., Wis., Mich., Ont.). This paradigm shift is occurring in much of the bobwhite’s historic range where habitat and bird populations remain at low levels. The result is that bobwhite culture as we know it (i.e., research, management, and hunting) will decline and be replaced by ecosystem conservation. At the state and national level (e.g., North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Conservation and Reinvestment Act), potential funding for restoration and management of savannas, prairies, agroecosystems, etc., can provide habitat for bobwhites. Bobwhite enthusiasts should embrace this change, and participate in the process to ensure that the needs of bobwhites are included. Importantly, our knowledge base for bobwhites is relatively strong and should bolster efforts to include needs of bobwhite in ecosystem management

The Impact of Invasive Exotic Grasses on Quail in the Southwestern United States

Five native quail species inhabit arid and semi-arid ecosystems in the southwestern United States. One species is endangered, one species is declining throughout it’s historic range, another species is declining in portions of its historic range, and the other two species may be beginning to decline in selected portions of their respective ranges. A number of factors have been implicated for these declines, though habitat loss is frequently cited as the most common factor associated with southwestern quail declines. Exotic species invasions in the United States represent a significant economic and biological threat to the United States. Many exotic organisms introduced to the United States are threatening entire ecosystems, replacing native species and even threatening other native species with extinction. Numerous exotic grasses are invading arid and semi-arid ecosystems in the Southwest. Most exotic grasses were intentionally introduced for erosion control and to provide forage for livestock. Cattlemen sometimes favor exotic grasses in spite of their impacts to native biodiversty. The impacts of exotic grasses on vegetative communities are discussed, as well as their potential impacts on the five native quail species that inhabit the southwestern United States. Exotic grass eradication and control are also discussed, as well as introducing exotic grass pest management into existing land management programs. Research designed to determine the impacts of exotic grass invasions on quail and their habitat is recommended

Releasing Captive-Reared Masked Bobwhites for Population Recovery: A Review

Efforts to reestablish the endangered masked bobwhite (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi) to its former historic range have been a primary focus on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR) since it was established in 1986. Prerelease conditioning techniques developed prior to refuge establishment continued to be utilized in an effort to improve postrelease survival of captive-reared masked bobwhite chicks. Foremost among these techniques was the use of wild Texas bobwhite ( C. v. texanus) males as foster parents. Texas foster parents were released with broods from 1985-1996. The efficacy of this technique was evaluated in 1994 using radio telemetry. Results suggested that postrelease survival of chicks was poor. Using an adaptive approach, prerelease protocols were modified over several years in an effort to improve postrelease survival among chicks. Since 1995. released chicks were monitored via radio telemetry and results of the modified releases indicated survival had improved. Though these results are preliminary and this study is ongoing, it appears that our modifications to prerelease conditioning may improve survival rates of captive-reared masked bobwhite chicks. The results of this research project may have implications for captive-reared quail release projects elsewhere

Habitat Selection of Northern Bobwhite in the Rio Grande Plains of Texas

From June 1987 through September 1988, we determined habitat selection by northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in the Rio Grande Plains of south Texas. Habitat components were evaluated at a large scale (100-m circular plots) and fine scale (8-m circular plots) levels of resolution at radiomarked bobwhite locations and at random sites. Data was collected during summer 1987, fall-winter 1987–88, and spring-early summer 1988. On both scales of resolution, during each season, bobwhites were found in more patchier areas than were available. Distance to roads was the only important large scale habitat variable identified. Forbs appeared to be the most important fine scale habitat variable. Grass, shrubs, and bare ground were also identified as important habitat variables. Important fine-scale and large-scale habitat variables were not correlated with one another. Therefore, it is important to examine habitat variables at different scales when studying habitat use by northern bobwhites

Effects of Two Commercial Game Bird Feeds on Captive Northern Bobwhite Chick Growth Rates

Supplemental feeding of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) is a widespread management practice. Bobwhite chicks in the wild consume only arthropods for their first 30–60 days of life. Arthropods may become less abundant and managers have supplied bobwhites with supplemental feed during times of drought to mitigate the lack of arthropods. We compared growth rates of captive bobwhite chicks consuming a new, commercial 24% crude protein supplement to growth rates of bobwhites consuming a commercial 30% crude protein complete ration. There was no male/female bias related to chick growth. Chicks consuming the 24% protein diet grew slower and reached adult mass (150 g) 1 month later than birds on the 30% protein diet. Birds grew 4–6 times faster than documented rates from wild chicks in Florida, but this is attributed to captivity bias. A 24% protein supplement has insufficient protein to optimize growth of bobwhites and is a poor substitute for arthropods in time of drought. A 30% protein diet has sufficient nutrient levels to justify further research as a supplement to mitigate a lack of arthropods in times of drought

Comparative Morphology and Phylogenetic Relatedness Among Bobwhites in Southern U.S. and Mexico

We analyzed the morphology and phylogenetic relatedness of masked bobwhites (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi) and Texas bobwhites (C. v. texanus) to determine if the numerically stable Texas bobwhite might serve as a reasonable research and management model for the endangered masked bobwhite. We compared 26 external and 24 internal morphological features. Texas and masked bobwhites had similar body mass; however, masked bobwhites had smaller head and body dimensions and longer wing and thigh bones (P \u3c 0.01) than Texas bobwhites. Genomic DNA was extracted from heart or muscle tissue of captive masked bobwhites (n = 12) and from northern bobwhites obtained in Florida (n = 3), Tennessee (n = 5), Texas (n = 12), and Oklahoma (n = 3). Bobwhites from South Texas and masked bobwhites appear to form a relatively closely related assemblage, possibly representing a separate lineage from other bobwhite populations. Based on gross similarities between Texas and masked bobwhites in morphology and phylogenetic relatedness, as well as in habitat conditions on the semiarid rangelands they occupy, biological and management information from Texas bobwhites seems applicable to masked bobwhites

Potential Effects of Global Warming on Quail Populations

Populations of scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) and northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have declined in North America coincident with global warming. We speculate on a cause-effect relation between global warming and quail declines. Quail are sensitive to operative temperatures \u3e38.7 C, which commonly occur under natural conditions in southern latitudes. Based on empirical results, the laying season for quail may be reduced by as much as 60 days because of high temperatures. We provide mechanistic models that show how reduction in length of the laying season suppresses per-capita annual production. Global warming could be associated with declining quail populations through suppression of reproduction; it also could exacerbate the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation. These possibilities should be explored in field and laboratory research