Nesting Ecology Of Scaled Quail At Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area Texas

Texas Quails presents the first complete assessment of the four species of quail found in this vast state. Experts describe each of them and examine all geographic regions of the state for historical and current population trends, habitat status, and research needs. These experts also discuss management practices, hunting issues, economics, and diseases.

Authored by some of the state’s top wildlife scientists, The Upland and Webless Migratory Game Birds of Texas presents the most up-to-date and comprehensive information covering twenty-one species of game birds. Ranging from the most well-known, like the Wild Turkey and Mourning Dove, to the marsh-loving rails and other more elusive species, these birds have widespread appeal among both hunters and birders and underscore the diverse challenges facing wildlife scientists, land managers, and conservationists in Texas today. From cultural significance to taxonomy and evolutionary history, this volume provides a wealth of background information on these species. Additionally, the book offers illustrated species accounts, detailed range maps, and information about habitat and management requirements, hunting regulations, and research priorities. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of these game birds and the array of terrestrial and wetland landscapes key to their survival. This will serve as a convenient and thorough reference volume for wildlife biologists and enthusiasts, as well as landowners and hunters.

Based on long-term roadside call counts performed by Texas Parks and Wildlife, scaled quail numbers have been declining since the mid to late 1980's in the Rolling Plains and SHP of Texas. Rollins (2000) reported that northwest Texas as well as the Oklahoma panhandle have only "relic populations" since the early 1990's, meaning current scaled quail distributions are smaller and more fragmented than before. However, the Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau ecoregions have the greatest abundance of scaled quail according to 15-yr data trends in the TPWD Forecast. Although there is a considerable amount of literature on this species, much of their ecology, specifically nesting and brood ecology, is not well understood (Silvy et al. 2007). Scaled quail survival rates have been estimated to be between 15-70%, depending on the study region.