NORTHERN BobWhite Quail Restoration

Conservation Park is carrying out its quail program under the direction of its board and officer group with strategic help from private game biologists and biologists from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

There are many theories as to why quail have virtually disappeared from the Southeastern United States. One of them being that there is a positive correlation between the use of farm chemicals and the decline of bird population, particularly Bob White Quail.

The Park started a quail development and conservation program in 1999 with the goal of turning the Park into an ideal sanctuary for quail with an abundance of cover, feed, and, to the degree possible, relatively free of predators. A trapping program has been in place for the last several years in an attempt to control ground predators, such as foxes, coons, opossums, skunks, and feral cats.

Being cognizant of the decline in bird species of practically every type in Southeastern United States over the past 30 years, it is the Park’s goal to determine whether or not Bob White Quail can be increased on a land area of approximately 1,500 acres starting with approximately five small coveys (five to ten birds) of wild birds with reasonable efforts made to provide an abundance of feed and cover while controlling predators and prohibiting hunting.

Conservation Park farms the land only as it is necessary to provide food and cover for quail and does not use chemicals of any kind, type, or description. However, farms in the neighborhood do use modern farm chemicals designed to efficiently kill pests and maximize production. The Park is devoting substantial resources to this quail program, including the purchase of approximately $100,000 worth of farm equipment and hundreds of man hours of labor each year.

Hopefully, over the next several years, we will experience a material increase of the number of quail at the Park. We are interested in learning from people who have experience in the quail development area and are interested in sharing their experiences with us.

For additional information on Conservation Park and our Bob White Quail Restoration Program you are invited to call the Park Manager at
804-966-7313 and visit the Park.

Photos courtesy of: Virginia Wildlife, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries