This is a question I hear often and most of the time it is followed by, "I think it is all the hawks.” Wrong. Avian predators like hawks and owls take a small percentage of quail, but overall their affect on the population is minimal. In fact 85% of a red-tailed hawk's diet is comprised of small mammals like mice, squirrels, and rabbits with the remaining 15% being shared by snakes, frogs, fish, grasshoppers, and birds. The real culprit behind the dramatic drop in quail numbers in Iowa is changing agricultural practices.  In the 1950's and 60's farms consisted of a patchwork of small fields that included large and small grains, hayland, and pasture. All the fields were separated by shrubby fence rows that the farmers did not let mature into adult trees because they were constantly harvesting trees for fence posts and other uses. Also, most farms had quite a few waste areas where, for whatever reason, they weren't able to get a crop planted every year. Now we have large fields of primarily corn

and beans, few fence rows, air conditioned tractors with bush hogs, and the fields are devoid of weeds because of widespread pesticide use. Pesticide use is the single biggest reason for the decline in quail numbers over the last 50 years. The crop fields of the 1950's that had weeds, insects, shrubby fence rows, and a good number of adjacent waste areas provided excellent nesting, brood rearing, food, and winter cover for quail. 

That being said, we do have more predators in southwest Iowa than we did in the 1950's, which has not helped. Some of this is due to the fact that there are more raccoons, skunks, opossums, and other nest robbing predators since the crash of the fur industry.  Another reason that we have more of these predators is because we have more woodlands in southwest Iowa than we had in 1950, which provide habitat for woodland dependant species like raccoons. Some might think that the way to combat these increased predator numbers might be to control predators

on your property. Wrong again. There have been literally dozens of studies on the effect of predator control and every one has found that it has little effect on prey populations because of the predator’s ability to kick up reproductive rates and colonize the controlled area from adjacent areas. State wildlife agencies implemented predator control programs in the past and found that it would provide little benefit and had the potential to use up their entire budgets. Until people quit throwing red paint on fur wearing ladies and that market returns to prominence, we cannot expect any broad scale reduction in predator numbers. 

However, if you provide suitable habitat for quail they will be able to withstand any amount of pressure from predators or harsh weather. This includes nesting cover, brood rearing cover, winter cover, food, and escape cover. For more information on how to create this habitat and for information on government programs that might provide incentives to help you, contact the Sidney NRCS office.

practices may include spraying herbicides, disking, interseeding, and using prescribed fire.

According to NRCS Biologist Mark Lindflott, “CRP ground occasionally must be disturbed to prevent fields from becoming thatch bound. Disturbing the ground creates open areas within the stand for birds and small game wildlife. MCM activities are

Since the fall of 2003, each new CRP contract has included a mandatory activity referred to as mid-contract management (MCM). MCM  activities started as a result of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 which modified CRP rules and elevated wildlife habitat to equal status with soil erosion and water quality. MCM

also designed to open up grass stands and allow room for forbs and planted legumes and wildflowers to grow. This restores the habitat’s wildlife value to grassland birds.”

If your CRP contract is scheduled for MCM, please begin the planning process early, especially for prescribed burning, by visiting the Sidney Field Office.

 

 

Where have all the quail gone? by Matt Dollison, Iowa DNR/NRCS

CRP Mid-Contract Management

Page 5

2008 Annual Report

The CP-33 quail buffer practice can be installed around the perimeters of crop-fields to provide excellent brood-rearing habitat for local quail populations.

The Fremont SWCD no-till drill is available for rental throughout the year for $10/acre.