Bob white quail in ON

[Sharon]

I believe Cass is not referring to a sustainable population but rather being able to release birds for training purposes, trials /tests.

[yellow dog]

I haven't come across any recent studies to determine current populations in this neck of the woods. I remember clearly in the 1970's hunting with my brother in law in the Thamesville Ontario area putting up large numbers. Yes extreme winter weather conditions in the 70's and 80's along with habitat loss reduced the population . It's really sad farming practices played a huge role in the devastation of this species.

[terrym]

There is no doubt in my mind that releasing pen raised birds will eventually weaken wild gene pools. But as many have said they are near non existant so you have to decide what exactly you want out of it. Other than hunting, quail really have little commercial value. Families in Volvos and minivans won't flock to sanctuaries to see quail in the Spring. The only people who ever actually see a Bobwhite are likely those looking to kill them, and the few landowners that have a population of them. They aren't especially magnificent birds to look at. So, with basically no money available for any serious targeted reintroduction programs my guess is the anti hunters would quickly kill any reintroduction efforts. Changing or improving habitat is quite expensive and the reality is the MNR is near the bottom of the list when governments budget borrowed money.
That leaves you with a user pay situation and has to be almost entirely done on private property in fairly restricted geographic area. Pelee is a pretty good business model. Perhaps something similar could done with quail?

[Sharon]

Not magnificent I guess , but a beautiful bird. I love their call too. They are definitely a challenge for a bird dog as they hang out in coveys and love to run.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xx9JWlSaBY

[Cass]

I agree. Quite beautiful

[huntinaddict]

i have been hunting the southwestern ontario area hard for the last 8 years. we have yet to see a wild pheasant or bobwhite. i personally know the owner of a game farm, he had a pheasant hatch eggs on his property and the little ones survived. if they closed the pheasant season for a year or 2 after a release program, then set a male only harvest rule they might stand a chance.

[trkyhntr21]

I have flushed wild Southern Ontario bobwhites but it was about six years ago haven't been back to the spot since the place had good bird cover and food.

[Ugo]

The challenges are many. At the fore-front, "hunting" is a bad thing. This is followed by farming practices that clear every last hedge-row. They till in the fall too, so there is virtually no sustainable winter habitat. The real wide spectrum killer in my opinion is herbicides, pesticides, insecticides. I don't think it's a leap to wonder where the quail/Huns/pheasants have gone when you compromise their habitat, leave no winter shelter, have them ingesting chemicals and kill off their food source. Hmmm.....???? Some of my best friends are farmers - it is what it is.
Feral cats are THE #1 predator of game birds, song birds, rabbits, etc. I have visited local farms only to see 5-25 of them breeding freely, roaming around.
Our hunting dollars do not go towards developing the sport as a resource. It goes into the "general coffers".
The basic model for hunting is something like this: $$$$$$$$$ in - virtually 0 out, oh....and cut-backs are eminent.
The basic premise in this province at least is to tap on the users for $$$$$ until the natural resource is annihilated. I told you, "Hunters are bad!" At that juncture, it's up to the organized user groups such OFAH, etc. to represent hunters. Odd that those that are collecting the $$$$$$ from hunters don't have an interest of their own in seeing as a resource. I guess it's easier to collect the $$$$$$ and then leave it to those BAD groups that represent evil hunters to fight the fight. Otherwise, it could compromise re-election votes from the majority (antis).
I last saw a covey of wild quail around 1975 in the Dunnville area. I had no idea it was the first and last covey of wild quail I would see. Although I did not return immediately, I have since been back there MANY times never to see any sign of them.
Thank goodness we're not introducing sub-standard Bobwhites into the environment!
Show me the money!!!!!

[Waftrudnir]

I don't buy into the theory with weakening the gene pool. You might introduce desease and it will take a few years until released birds become "wild", but that is something that you can take care of if one would stock proper and sufficient birds.
The truth is that there's no money for doing it right!
Habitat and predation are what needs to be foremost considered if you want to see long term succuess. It's great if someone plants a hedge and shoots a yote, but until you plaster half a county with traps and significantly change agricultural practices in the same area, it is like planting flowers in your backyard - something to enjoy for the season, but next to nothing left for the coming year.

It is a question of priorities - not for us, but for farmers who would have to "pay" for it (the general public is unlikely going to spend a cent more in the grocery store)
I guess in a few years (and a bunch of publications to come) the gene pool thing is completely off the table. The problem with founding and lack of habitat would remain. Luckily by that time, there are likely so few wild birds left that the fuss about keeping them for hunting will be long over; money saved and fewer areas in Southern Ontario hunted - a complete political success...

[welsh]

if they closed the pheasant season for a year or 2 after a release program, then set a male only harvest rule they might stand a chance.

This is a truth not many people want to acknowledge. We re-established turkeys and elk by keeping the season closed for years while working to restore their numbers. Releasing a bunch of birds and then declaring open season each fall (and shooting hens) is not going to achieve anything.

I don't think it's a leap to wonder where the quail/Huns/pheasants have gone when you compromise their habitat, leave no winter shelter, have them ingesting chemicals and kill off their food source. Hmmm.....????

+1

I don't buy into the theory with weakening the gene pool.

Whether you buy into it or not, it's well established by repeated studies and real world experience. I'll take that over armchair theory any day.

Obviously you have to release something to re-establish a wild population, but the pen-raised offspring of pen-raised parents ain't it. You'll be feeding predators weak birds and potentially screwing up any wild population you do manage to establish over the years. The best way to do it is to trap and release wild birds.