Anyone hear any updates on the Bobwhite situation

[Couliewalker]

I have a good friend who winters in Arizona and therefore has taken an interest in joining the Southern AZ quail forever chpt.
Reading their latest news,they have undertaken a project to reintroduce the Masked bobwhite.This quail was once part of the landscape and today it is as scarce in AZ as our bobwhites are here.
What a breath of fresh air to read about an organization taking an active not passive role in such an endevour.
We can learn from that.
Has anyone heard any updates on any real action taking place to turn the tide on our endangered Bobwhites? The MNRF stated that it will not help out the pheasant or Huns since they are not indigenous to our landscape.Neither are any of us.But Quail is different.I don't see anything on the OFAH website of any real plans either.

[terrym]

There’s no money left. If the government is going to borrow money it won’t be for game birds so we can kill them. Reality sucks.

[Bowjob]

There’s no money left. If the government is going to borrow money it won’t be for game birds so we can kill them. Reality sucks.

hah well put.

[fishhawk]

No money for habitat work, only wild population of Bobwhite’s left in Ontario that I know of is on Walpole island. Now if we ever did get the money together for land and habitat work, those Walpole birds would make perfect candidates for transfer stockings. Wishful thinking on my part. In reality the only thing the government has done so far is put them on the protected species list. About as much as you’d expect from the Ontario government with the dept and cutbacks going on. Maybe one day.

[kickingfrog]

Is there enough habitat for them?

[ninepointer]

The Federal and Provincial Endangered Species Act require each level of government to prepare a Northern Bobwhite Quail Recovery Strategy. The Feds completed their's last year which put the ball in the Province's court. As far as I know, the MNRF has done nothing since, despite the fact they are required by law to prepare a strategy and its long overdue (see TerryM's and FishHawk's posts above). Even if they do get around to preparing a Provincial Recovery Strategy, its just a document. The last wild Bobwhite Quail in Ontario will be gone by the time the bureaucrats pat each other on the backs for a job well done. In reply to Kickingfrog, the last population and decent habitat left in Ontario is on Walpole Island.

[ninepointer]

https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...ighlight=quail

[terrym]

Even if some funding could be found the reality is the majority of habitat is privately owned. Not many people will want to support an initiative to rebuild habitat they will only get to look at from the road with red dots on every post.

[ninepointer]

Even if some funding could be found the reality is the majority of habitat is privately owned. Not many people will want to support an initiative to rebuild habitat they will only get to look at from the road with red dots on every post.

That's the issue with local deer feeding associations that still exist. "Let me get this straight... you want ME to donate MY money so that some guy can attract deer to HIS back 40?!"

[terrym]

I think a business model like Pelee Island might work. Make it worthwhile for landowners on Manitoulin Island to buy in ( and profit) from a put and take hunt for quail and I bet it would fly. Much easier to access with no worries about wind and ferries. Lots of tourist accommodations that would love to extend their seasons.