"Historically, early Bob White quail populations in North America were relatively low as compared with the highs of the early to mid-1900's before we cleared and developed the land. As we developed the land we killed the small hawks; with pesticide, trapping and GrandMa's shotgun. Quail flourished as hawk populations plummeted."
Neil,
I believe you got it half right. What was experienced in the mid 1900's was a quail boom. Lots of small (100 acre)farms after WWII provided ideal habitat for the gleaning bob white. Those farms are gone. Sadly, what I'm afraid we have now is a reduction back to historic population levels. Just my .02 and it doesn't bode well for a comeback to what our fathers and grandfathers saw.
Quail Population 'The Smoking Gun"
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bagofdonuts
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birddogger
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Re: Quail Population 'The Smoking Gun"
Excellent post!bagofdonuts wrote:"Historically, early Bob White quail populations in North America were relatively low as compared with the highs of the early to mid-1900's before we cleared and developed the land. As we developed the land we killed the small hawks; with pesticide, trapping and GrandMa's shotgun. Quail flourished as hawk populations plummeted."
Neil,
I believe you got it half right. What was experienced in the mid 1900's was a quail boom. Lots of small (100 acre)farms after WWII provided ideal habitat for the gleaning bob white. Those farms are gone. Sadly, what I'm afraid we have now is a reduction back to historic population levels. Just my .02 and it doesn't bode well for a comeback to what our fathers and grandfathers saw.
Charlie
If you think you can or if you think you can't, you are right either way
Re: Quail Population 'The Smoking Gun"
At 46 that is disheartening to learn however thank you gentlemen for the perspective...glad I got a pc of it when I did.birddogger wrote:Excellent post!bagofdonuts wrote:"Historically, early Bob White quail populations in North America were relatively low as compared with the highs of the early to mid-1900's before we cleared and developed the land. As we developed the land we killed the small hawks; with pesticide, trapping and GrandMa's shotgun. Quail flourished as hawk populations plummeted."
Neil,
I believe you got it half right. What was experienced in the mid 1900's was a quail boom. Lots of small (100 acre)farms after WWII provided ideal habitat for the gleaning bob white. Those farms are gone. Sadly, what I'm afraid we have now is a reduction back to historic population levels. Just my .02 and it doesn't bode well for a comeback to what our fathers and grandfathers saw.
Charlie