Date: 5/2/24 9:03 am From: Steve Long <steve.long4...> Subject: Re: [MDBirding] N Bobwhite, P.G. Co
Gail,
Thanks for the interesting population info.
Yes, part of the population loss does not seem likely to be explained by
the parameters we are considering. That is why I am wondering if some
change in chemicals used in farming could play a role. But, that is
pure speculation on my part.
As for feral cats preventing any repopulation, I can only note that the
area where I am living has a pretty sizeable population of cats, both
free-roaming pets and live-in-the-wild. I suspect that is maintained by
people who "drop off unwanted pets in the country". My mother used to
have one or two show up at this house, and she would promptly adopt
them. Others that I see occasionally are shy of humans, and probably
subsist entirely by hunting. A local farmer used to have a colony in
his barn, plus one special one that rode around in his tractor and liked
to eat raw corn off the cob. My mother once took a stray over to that
farmer, and he kept it in his barn for a few days to acclimate, then let
it loose. It promptly disappeared, and showed up at this house 2 days
later, about 1-2 miles distant (and my mother just adopted it, after
that). So, my impression is that we have plenty of cats within the
range of habitat where I am still hearing quail calling.
Regarding farm fields that are left fallow being overgrown by wild pear
trees: Yes, that is a big issue around here. It is being addressed by
land management that recovers fields by brush-hogging and then maintains
them with very infrequent mowing and/or controlled burning. So, that
definitely does enhance the habitat suitability for quail around here.
The owner is doing that specifically to enhance the habitat, and also
releases game birds for hunting, which he leases the rights to do. So,
it is mixed bag of + and -.
Steve Long, Oxford
On 5/2/2024 11:11 AM, Gail Mackiernan wrote:
> In the 1970s we had Bobwhite on my mother’s 2-acre property adjacent
> to Sligo Creek Park in Silver Spring. I recall seeing a covey in its
> circle/head’s out position on our driveway on a cold winter’s day,
> when the asphalt was warmer than the ground. They disappeared in the
> terrible winter of 1975-76, when the Bay froze over and we lost almost
> all our Carolina Wrens.
>
> I did the MD Breeding Bird Atlas in the 1980s and Bobwhite were found
> in Upper Northwest Branch Park, where they persisted into the early
> 1990s in the vicinity of the old Trolley Museum. Last ones I saw were
> in 1992. The once extensive field habitat there, unfortunately, has
> become almost completely overgrown with Bradford Pear and invasive
> brambles, due to lack of (IMHO) appropriate management by the MoCo
> Parks Department.
>
> Still cannot understand why Bobwhite disappeared from areas where
> habitat has not changed much - they were everywhere at Lilypons into
> the 1990s and then, just melted away, despite no change in management
> of the area.
>
> Gail Mackiernan
> Colesville
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On May 2, 2024, at 10:18 AM, Steve Long <steve.long4...>
> wrote:
>
>> When I was a kid (VERY long ago), quail were common in that area, as
>> indicated by hearing their calls.
>>
>> I am not sure exactly why they vanished. Obviously, the habitat was
>> drastically changed by subdivision housing and other construction.
>> And the introduction of dogs and cats in large numbers were
>> predators, as well as the large amount of automobile traffic. Also,
>> farming introduced a lot of chemicals during that time period.
>>
>> Even where I live now, quail are not very common, although I do hear
>> their calls daily and have sometimes seen individuals and
>> occasionally coveys. They do get introduced here for hunting
>> purposes, so there is still some pressure from that, but a lot of the
>> farmland has been taken out of production and allowed to go wild. It
>> is not certain if the natural population around here was ever
>> completely destroyed, so it is not clear whether the current
>> population is totally reliant on introductions, or would be self
>> sustaining without hunting pressure.
>>
>> In contrast, turkeys and pheasants are also released around here, and
>> the pheasants do not last long. But the turnkeys have succeeded in
>> reproducing a self-sustaining population, even with hunting. I see
>> flocks with young every year.
>>
>> So, with Rock Creek and some open space around the College Park area,
>> I am wondering if some self-sustaining repopulation of quail is
>> possible, there, now.
>>
>> Steve Long, Oxford
>>
>>
>> On 5/1/2024 2:49 PM, JAMES SPEICHER wrote:
>>> A co-workers sons raised Bobwhites as some kind of Scouting or other
>>> project, so I think this isn't that uncommon even in suburbia.
>>>
>>> They contacted me to suggest a country location to release them when
>>> grown. We did that and I'm sure the local foxes were grateful.
>>>
>>> Jim Speicher
>>>
>>> On Wed, May 1, 2024, 2:27 PM Jack Saba <jlsaba001...> wrote:
>>>
>>> This looks like a Northern Bobwhite, not a Coturnix quail as far
>>> as I
>>> can tell. I hadn't realized anyone raised (or released) any game
>>> birds
>>> in the College Park/Berwyn Heights/Greenbelt area.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 5/1/24 10:14, Rick Borchelt wrote:
>>> > Yes, more likely to see coturnix quail released in the 'burbs
>>> around
>>> > College Park. They show up in my yard occasionally, to the
>>> delight of
>>> > the local red fox.
>>> >
>>> > On Wed, May 1, 2024 at 9:23 AM Jack Saba <jlsaba001...>
>>> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > There is a female N Bobwhite in my yard. Pretty much has
>>> to be a
>>> > released bird, but I'm in the middle of a suburban area
>>> (Berwyn
>>> > Heights). Can't see why anyone would be releasing
>>> bobwhites around
>>> > here.
>>> >
>>> > Totally unexpected yard bird.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > --
>>> > Jack Saba
>>> > <jlsaba001...>
>>> > Berwyn Heights, P.G. County, Md.
>>> >
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>>> > Rick Borchelt
>>> > College Park, MD
>>> > preferred personal email: rborchelt |AT| gmail |DOT| com
>>> >
>>> > http://leplog.wordpress.com >>>
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>>> Jack Saba
>>> <jlsaba001...>
>>>
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