North Texas Quail Corridor Dr. Kelly Reyna, University of North Texas (UNT) Quail,
hopes to create a quail corridor in North Texas. Ultimately, Reyna envisions a North Texas Corridor of 2.2 million acres, stretching from Archer County in West Texas east through Clay, Montague and Cooke counties along the Red River; south through Wise, Parker and Hood; and then southeast through parts of Johnson, Ellis and Navarro counties.
Hear more about UNT Quail at the 2015 Cattle Raisers Convention.
CONVENTION
March 27-29, 2015 Fort Worth, Texas
execute this concept, the landowner must develop a thorough understanding of the quail’s life cycle.”
Life cycle A good description of the northern bobwhite quail’s
life cycle can be found in Ecology of Northern Bobwhite Quail in Missouri, written by Robert Pierce, Extension Fish and Wildlife coordinator, University of Missouri, and Elsa Gallagher, formerly an upland wildlife coor- dinator with Missouri Department of Conservation. Gallagher is now a regional wildlife biologist with Quail Forever. The following material is largely taken from the Pierce/Gallagher publication. During the fall, birds intermix and form coveys, or
social groups. Coveys may contain as many as 20 to 30 bobwhites, but the average size is 10 to 12 birds. This period of transition and increased movement is often called the “fall shuffl e.” At this time, populations have typically peaked for the year and juvenile birds will make up 75 to 80 percent of the covey during non-drought years. In drought years, this percentage decreases to 15 to 20 percent because the adults rarely produce young. A covey will not normally mix with another covey,
although their ranges may overlap. Depending on habitat quality, coveys may require 15 to 160 acres or more to meet their food and cover needs. Quail remain in their coveys during the winter
96 The Cattleman February 2015
and then as spring approaches, longer days and bet- ter weather conditions trigger the gradual breakup of the coveys to begin mating season. The familiar 2-note (bob-white) or 3-note (bob-bob-white) whistle made by males in early spring to attract a female is the earliest sign that the reproductive season is under way. Courting pairs are initially formed in April and May; however, pair bonds will form and break, then re-form throughout the breeding season, which runs from May to September. During a given breeding season, individual bob-
whites may mate and initiate nesting attempts with as many as 3 partners. Nesting occurs from May to September. The hen
lays approximately 1 egg daily until a clutch of 12 to 15 eggs is produced. This usually requires 15 to 20 days following completion of nest construction, often with a slight delay between construction and the onset of egg-laying. Within 2 to 5 days of when the last egg is laid, the
hen or cock will start incubation. The average incuba- tion period is 23 days. Between 2 and 6 weeks after hatching, chicks de-
velop juvenile plumage and fl ight abilities. The chicks eat insects until the populations wane in late fall. At that time, the diet of both chicks and adults shifts to seeds and berries. At 12 to 16 weeks, juveniles are nearly the size of adult birds. Summer life for quail
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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