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Continued...
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Percentage of Dummy Nest Predators
Click to enlarge 
Click to enlarge 
A scent station survey was laid out in late July. This would survey predators by appealing to their curiosity and sense of smell. At each of the markers I cleared an area the size of our hula hoop. I then spread a layer of flour about a quarter of an inch thick over the whole surface. Finally, I placed a small scent tablet in the center of the circle. The tablets were given to us at our training session and had the smell of fatty acid. I then checked each station the following morning for two consecutive mornings. I found that, although the dummy nests were heavily predated, the scent stations were almost entirely left alone. This made me think that we must have a small but intelligent predator population on the ranch. Our ranch foreman assured me that there were plenty of varmints on the ranch. I think the enormous amount of recent rain might have provided more food opportunities for all the wildlife. After the scent stations, I was done with the experiments for a little while. We did go out to the ranch several times for different reasons. On these trips, I began to notice an increase in quail numbers. I also noticed an obvious increase in the diversity and number of forbs. In October I did another forb diversity study and found what I had already guessed to be true. We also conducted a covey call count. This was similar to the spring mating-call counts except that I was listening for a different sound. It was the morning trill that the lead rooster of each covey gives. Other members of the covey respond with the same call. This count also confirmed what I had already begun to observe: the population of quail had gone up. I have seen many good-sized coveys, and wildlife enthusiasts are calling this season the best in 10 years. |
 At the scent station, Donald checks for animal tracks. I believe these increased numbers correspond with the rainfall we received in midsummer. In June we had 1.79 inches; in July we received 13.01; and in August we were back down to 0.4 inches. This spike in rainfall came at exactly the right time. The chicks were just hatching and beginning to wander with their parents. The rain caused a spike both in the insect population and in the amount of dense ground cover. The main food for quail chicks is small insects like grasshoppers and crickets. The increased plant cover allowed the chicks to move more freely in their pursuit of food, and probably many fewer were taken by predators. This would support my original hypothesis, that the weather would be the dominant factor affecting quail abundance.  Donald captured this photograph of a faun one morning. He often observed other wildlife as well. My conclusion is the same as my hypothesis. Rain, or the lack thereof, is the primary factor in quail population size. This is supported by the data I collected while in the field and what I observed while hiking. However, because I have only one year's worth of data to go by, I am still unsure of the relationship and how to use rain totals to predict quail numbers. I also determined that the effects of predation are not as great a factor as I once thought. Each of the factors plays a part in the quality of the quail's habitat, but I don't know to what extent. While this year we got rain when we needed it, I have to look ahead and attempt to discover ways to influence the habitat during times when we don't have rain. This will help me to develop a proactive management plan. Now that I have completed my first year of observations with the Texas Quail Index, I feel that I know our land better and the animals that live there, too. With some time and a lot of work, I hope that some day I can predict quail population trends. However, that's a long way off. Right now I am glad I can enjoy the early-morning call counts and my hunting memories. Hopefully, with what we discover, we will be able to reverse the trend of quail decline and keep those bobwhite coveys flushing. |
