What isn't working

Releasing Adult Birds

The standard practice of releasing adult birds has had poor results. There are several reasons why.

Quail Restoration Technology research shows that virtually all day old quail released into a native environment will instinctively hide when disturbed. They will repeat this behavior at 2,3,and 4 weeks of age. After 5 weeks of age, these natural survival instincts start to rapidly diminish.  Pen raised quail that are released into a native environment no longer instinctively react when disturbed.

Each successive week shows a greater number of these birds losing the instinct to protect themselves by hiding. Once this instinct is lost, it does not return! If they don't use it, they lose it. After nine weeks in captivity, the instinct to hide or take flight when disturbed is nearly gone. When pen-raised are released into the wild, the lack of natural survival instincts leaves them highly susceptible to predation.

Adult quail released show poor survival instincts

Pen released birds are imprinted to the location where they were raised, usually hundreds of miles away from the area of release. They feel no inner compulsion to remain in the release area and consider it home.  Many birds have the ability to imprint to the location where they were raised (like waterfowl).  They will typically always return to within a short distance from their home area.  Quail have been documented to travel back from over 30 miles to return to their home range.

The pen-raised quail has been born and raised in confinement. For the most part, they are docile, unafraid and accustomed to a pen. They have been exposed to and are unafraid of humans. Their reaction time to danger in the wild is typically too slow to be effective for survival.

A greater body weight from a rich, easily accessible diet, combined with inactivity causes pen raised birds to fly slower. The diet of a native quail includes native seeds and insects. The exercise they get from the pursuit of insects promotes a leaner, meaner bird.

Habitat Improvements Alone

The purpose of habitat improvement is to make predators less effective and to provide a quail friendly environment with abundant food and cover which maximizes quail numbers in a given area.

Habitat Improvement has been the most common practice used by biologists to increase quail numbers.  In most cases, the intended result of significantly increasing the population has not been achieved.  Habitat improvement, as practiced today, is relatively unsuccessful partly because the eco-system has changed.

One of the most significant problems quail face is substantially increased numbers of certain types of predators.   Proper habitat improvement techniques will provide better nesting sites and food plots that allow free ground movements and overhead protection.  These improvements begin to provide quail the required protection from many predators.

In cases where habitat improvement alone does not yield increased quail population, Surrogate Propagation becomes an essential tool.  The required food, water, heat and protection is provided while young chicks develop their natural survival instincts.  When coupled with quality habitat, Surrogate Propagation can significantly increase quail populations.

See the many products provided by Wildlife Management Technologies to enhance the native quail populations on your property.

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