On Thu, May 2, 2024, 12:03 PM Steve Long <steve.long4...> wrote:
> 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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