COLD, ICE MAY HURT QUAIL
Frozen ground may lock birds out of food; thaw needed
PRATT —A mild winter last year combined with excellent nesting conditions and a cool, wet summer to produce good bobwhite quail populations in much of the state this season. However, in the wake of recent ice storms, many hunters are wondering if one of the best quail seasons in several years will be a short-lived phenomenon.
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks quail biologist Roger Applegate says the outlook may not be good in some places of the state.
"The problem is that the ice has locked quail out of many food sources," he explained. "If we don't get a thaw soon, we could have some serious problems."
Applegate adds that quail with access to ample food should be alright. But birds also need good cover where they can stay relatively warm and travel in and out to feed."CRP [Conservation Reserve Program] grass can help the birds stay warm, but it offers little food if it's the standard grass planting," Applegate said. "If the planting has a good mix of forbs, such as sunflower, then it could be a better situation."
Applegate also added that good quail production last summer has put coveys in places of marginal habitat.
"Those birds could be in trouble," he said. "Birds in prime habitat should be okay unless this weather continues for an extended period."
One such period occurred in January of 2002, when portions of the state suffered a month with extreme cold and snow. According to Roger Wells, a quail biologist with Quail Unlimited, what Kansas is currently experiencing has not yet reached that level, but the situation is threatening.
"Quail can lose half their body weight if locked out of food for three to four days," Wells said. "After that, some may start dying. But how much impact we've had so far, we don't know. It hasn't been that extremely cold for a long period, but birds locked out of food are in trouble."
Wells agrees that what quail need under these conditions is cover that offers shelter and freedom of movement with crops or other food sources nearby. Shelterbelts, grain fields and, in some conditions, CRP, provide this mix.
Landowners can help local populations, as well, by strategically placing feeders on their property.
"Feeders need to be placed near good cover close to travel lanes," explained Wells, "those places where when you're hunting you just know their ought to be a covey of quail."
As all Kansans know, weather is unpredictable. The same holds true for the state's upland game populations. With a little warming trend soon, most quail in the state may survive just fine, but those in marginal habitat may have a rough winter. KDWP officials probably won't know the effects of this winter on quail until the summer brood count survey in August.
Frozen ground may lock birds out of food; thaw needed
PRATT —A mild winter last year combined with excellent nesting conditions and a cool, wet summer to produce good bobwhite quail populations in much of the state this season. However, in the wake of recent ice storms, many hunters are wondering if one of the best quail seasons in several years will be a short-lived phenomenon.
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks quail biologist Roger Applegate says the outlook may not be good in some places of the state.
"The problem is that the ice has locked quail out of many food sources," he explained. "If we don't get a thaw soon, we could have some serious problems."
Applegate adds that quail with access to ample food should be alright. But birds also need good cover where they can stay relatively warm and travel in and out to feed."CRP [Conservation Reserve Program] grass can help the birds stay warm, but it offers little food if it's the standard grass planting," Applegate said. "If the planting has a good mix of forbs, such as sunflower, then it could be a better situation."
Applegate also added that good quail production last summer has put coveys in places of marginal habitat.
"Those birds could be in trouble," he said. "Birds in prime habitat should be okay unless this weather continues for an extended period."
One such period occurred in January of 2002, when portions of the state suffered a month with extreme cold and snow. According to Roger Wells, a quail biologist with Quail Unlimited, what Kansas is currently experiencing has not yet reached that level, but the situation is threatening.
"Quail can lose half their body weight if locked out of food for three to four days," Wells said. "After that, some may start dying. But how much impact we've had so far, we don't know. It hasn't been that extremely cold for a long period, but birds locked out of food are in trouble."
Wells agrees that what quail need under these conditions is cover that offers shelter and freedom of movement with crops or other food sources nearby. Shelterbelts, grain fields and, in some conditions, CRP, provide this mix.
Landowners can help local populations, as well, by strategically placing feeders on their property.
"Feeders need to be placed near good cover close to travel lanes," explained Wells, "those places where when you're hunting you just know their ought to be a covey of quail."
As all Kansans know, weather is unpredictable. The same holds true for the state's upland game populations. With a little warming trend soon, most quail in the state may survive just fine, but those in marginal habitat may have a rough winter. KDWP officials probably won't know the effects of this winter on quail until the summer brood count survey in August.
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