The Birding Lists Digest

Region: | Jump to : | View All Lists | FAQ

Date: 5/2/24 4:49 pm From: Steve Long <steve.long4...> Subject: Re: [MDBirding] N Bobwhite, P.G. Co
Jim, From the article in the link you provided: ""No one knows for sure," says wildlife biologist Kevin Church of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, exactly why those populations are suffering. "All we have are theories." So, yes, there are probable causes, but there is still some mystery. Theories are not facts. And the combination of factors probably differs significantly from region to region. The question at the beginning of this thread was whether a N Bobwhite Quail sighted in P.G. County could be natural rather than an escapee. Steve Long, Oxford On 5/2/2024 4:22 PM, JAMES SPEICHER wrote: > From 1993 and it wasn't a mystery even then. PWRCs Sam Droege and Tall > Timbers weigh in. > > https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/1993/The-Case-of-the-Disappearing-Quail > > My final thought > As with White-tailed Deer, the arrival of Europeans and the demise of > forest in favor of agriculture favored population increases of those > species that could adapt. Maybe quail were one of those beneficiaries > whose population bell curve reached a stunning and unnatural peak that > was bound to suffer a fall, which has now occurred... > > Jim Speicher > > On Thu, May 2, 2024, 3:03 PM Marcia Watson <marshwren50...> > wrote: > > > I’ve been following the bobwhite problem in MD for the last > several years. I used to live in Cecil County, which had a healthy > population of quail at places such as Fair Hill NRMA and > Earleville WMA, and I thought they’d always be there, but even > there they have become scarce or non-existent. Here are some > resources if you want to learn more. > > Bob Long is a DNR biologist who is an expert on Bobwhites. He is > the Upland Game Manager for MD. You can watch a four-part video of > a talk about bobwhites that he gave for the Ruffed Grouse Society. > He covers the decline in numbers in MD and the contraction of > their range, as well as habitat management needs. The first part > of the talk is at https://youtu.be/fGESWYoDwK4?feature=shared��and > then you can click through for the other three parts. > > The other expert in MD is Dan Small at Washington College in > Chestertown. Dan is head of the College’s Natural Lands Project, > which has been working to restore and manage habitat for quail and > grassland sparrows not only on the College’s land (the former > Chino Farms) but also on some public lands such as Sassafras NRMA > (Kent County) and Conquest Preserve (Queen Anne’s County). The > best way to appreciate Dan’s work is to go see the habitat for > yourself, either at Sassafras or Conquest. Or here’s a video of a > presentation that Dan gave for the Patuxent Bird Club. > https://youtu.be/quV5QhHcD90?feature=shared. Dan occasionally > leads walks for bird clubs and such a walk would be highly > recommended if you want to hear from him about quail habitat needs. > > Nationally, a leader in bobwhite restoration is Tall Timbers, a > non-profit based in Florida. Tall Timbers is working as a partner > to restore quail habitat at a number of locations, including on > Delmarva. Their expert is Kyle Magdziuk, and you can view a recent > talk that he gave for a MD Cooperative Extension landowners’ > program at > https://www.youtube.com/live/Lcq-7gO3Z98?feature=shared. (The > YouTube page at this link is from Luke Macaulay, a MD Extension > biologist, and it has lots of videos on diverse topics.) > > Marcia > ------------ > Marcia Watson > Phoenix, MD > >> On May 2, 2024, at 1:13 PM, Gail B. Mackiernan >> <katahdinss...> wrote: >> >> >> Well, the areas I mentioned do not or did not have much in the >> way of feral cats although numbers of foxes have certainly >> increased, as have that of native predatory birds, which could be >> factors. Also deer numbers, which although not a direct threat, >> massively alter plant communities and thus field/woodland >> structure and insect populations. There could even have been some >> genetic issues introduced by release of birds (for hunting) from >> populations not adapted to this climate. (The loss of some small, >> isolated Bobwhite populations during the excessive cold of the >> mid-70s winter indicates this is a vulnerability.) >> Anyway, they are effectively gone... >> Gail Mackiernan >> Colesville >>> On 05/02/2024 12:02 PM EDT 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. >>>>>> > >>>>>> > -- >>>>>> > -- You received this message because you are >>>>>> subscribed to the >>>>>> > Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'. >>>>>> > To view group guidelines or change email >>>>>> preferences, visit this >>>>>> > group on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com >>>>>> > Unfamiliar with a hotspot mentioned on this list? >>>>>> Quickly locate >>>>>> > it here - http://www.mdbirding.com/hotspot.html >>>>>> > --- >>>>>> > You received this message because you are >>>>>> subscribed to the Google >>>>>> > Groups "Maryland & DC Birding" group. >>>>>> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving >>>>>> emails from it, >>>>>> > send an email to >>>>>> mdbirding+<unsubscribe...> >>>>>> <mailto:mdbirding%<2Bunsubscribe...> >>>>>> > <mailto:mdbirding%<2Bunsubscribe...> >>>>>> <mailto:mdbirding%<252Bunsubscribe...>>. >>>>>> > To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>>> > >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/<80c372d9-22ce-496d-9f39-f2f15c8b5449...> >>>>>> >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > -- >>>>>> > Rick Borchelt >>>>>> > College Park, MD >>>>>> > preferred personal email: rborchelt \|AT\| gmail \|DOT\| com >>>>>> > >>>>>> > http://leplog.wordpress.com >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Jack Saba >>>>>> <jlsaba001...> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed >>>>>> to the Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'. >>>>>> To view group guidelines or change email preferences, >>>>>> visit this group on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com >>>>>> Unfamiliar with a hotspot mentioned on this list? Quickly >>>>>> locate it here - http://www.mdbirding.com/hotspot.html >>>>>> --- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to >>>>>> the Google Groups "Maryland & DC Birding" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails >>>>>> from it, send an email to >>>>>> mdbirding+<unsubscribe...> >>>>>> <mailto:mdbirding%<2Bunsubscribe...>. >>>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/<7700c6b3-fe38-4b04-a5ca-3ac0118281e1...> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to >>>>>> the Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'. >>>>>> To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit >>>>>> this group on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com >>>>>> Unfamiliar with a hotspot mentioned on this list? Quickly >>>>>> locate it here - http://www.mdbirding.com/hotspot.html >>>>>> --- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>> Google Groups "Maryland & DC Birding" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from >>>>>> it, send an email to mdbirding+<unsubscribe...> >>>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/CAAaQ%3DiZ6wv6hQx1qJgu-ZZPHUxBDD1%3DQ_-9%<3DiXedHdB2Tf-ERg...> >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/CAAaQ%3DiZ6wv6hQx1qJgu-ZZPHUxBDD1%3DQ_-9%<3DiXedHdB2Tf-ERg...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>> Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'. >>>>> To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit >>>>> this group on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com >>>>> Unfamiliar with a hotspot mentioned on this list? Quickly >>>>> locate it here - http://www.mdbirding.com/hotspot.html >>>>> --- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>> Google Groups "Maryland & DC Birding" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from >>>>> it, send an email to mdbirding+<unsubscribe...> >>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/<f4016b9c-5517-410f-b383-aa2677a9a814...> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/<f4016b9c-5517-410f-b383-aa2677a9a814...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. >>>>> >> -- >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the >> Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'. >> To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit this >> group on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com >> Unfamiliar with a hotspot mentioned on this list? Quickly locate >> it here - http://www.mdbirding.com/hotspot.html >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >> Google Groups "Maryland & DC Birding" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >> send an email to mdbirding+<unsubscribe...> >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/<491389375.2496137.1714669983131...> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/<491389375.2496137.1714669983131...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. > -- > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the > Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'. > To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit this > group on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com > Unfamiliar with a hotspot mentioned on this list? Quickly locate > it here - http://www.mdbirding.com/hotspot.html > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "Maryland & DC Birding" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, > send an email to mdbirding+<unsubscribe...> > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/<CF5F6E99-44D1-49E3-A709-AFC99CA9A745...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/<CF5F6E99-44D1-49E3-A709-AFC99CA9A745...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. > > -- > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'. > To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit this group > on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com > Unfamiliar with a hotspot mentioned on this list? Quickly locate it > here - http://www.mdbirding.com/hotspot.html > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "Maryland & DC Birding" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send > an email to mdbirding+<unsubscribe...> > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/CAAaQ%<3DiYYyYPvaGCQQndA_O2BUNL17GnNipSmTXG0zrXMPZeRsg...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/CAAaQ%<3DiYYyYPvaGCQQndA_O2BUNL17GnNipSmTXG0zrXMPZeRsg...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>. -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Group 'Maryland & DC Birding'. To view group guidelines or change email preferences, visit this group on the web at http://www.mdbirding.com Unfamiliar with a hotspot mentioned on this list? Quickly locate it here - http://www.mdbirding.com/hotspot.html --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Maryland & DC Birding" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mdbirding+<unsubscribe...> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/<7e270d45-23e3-48a5-b46f-4abb3cce2faf...>

Join us on Facebook!