Historically known as the king of game birds in Virginia, Bobwhite reached a population peak in the mid-nineteenth century and afterwards began to decline. During the last 50 years this decline has accelerated due to the rural to urban economic shift in the Chesapeake Bay region. In addition, there are fewer farms, where the edge habitat between forests and fields is well suited to Bobwhite. The suburban housing developments that are replacing farms have very little brushy, unkempt habitat between lawns and wooded areas.
Bobwhite Quail prefer this mixed habitat since it provides food and cover. Knowing this and after hearing reports of Northern Bobwhite sightings nearby, a group of volunteers rallied to restore a section of New Quarter Park in upper York County, Virginia, to attract the birds.
Restoring Habitat to Manage for Birds at New Quarter Park
Members of the Historic Rivers Chapter, Virginia Master Naturalists; John Clayton Chapter, Virginia Native Plant Society; and Williamsburg Bird Club as well as York County Parks and Recreation and the Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District planned and executed the restoration habitat on a former open meadow that abutted the forest. Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District employees used shallow tilling methods to plow up fescue grass and seeded the meadow with partridge pea and black-eyed Susans. The club members planted other native flora known to be among the Bobwhite’s favorite food sources because they provide seeds and attract insects. They referred to Beyond the Food Patch: A Guide to Providing Bobwhite Quail Habitat, a website developed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
In the future, the area will be mowed from time to time to control sapling growth. The roots of plants in the diverse landscape will hold soil in place and improve water quality by preventing runoff. This also increases infiltration to improve water resources in the area.
It is hoped that visitors to the park will be inspired by the attractive meadow and will be inspired to replace monocultures of grass with a wildlife habitat.
Bobwhite Behavior
Bobwhite Quail require surroundings that provide food as well as cover so that they can feed, escape danger, nest, and roost. Small fields usually represent about 25 percent of their habitat and the birds are most active in brushy areas where two habitat types come together. The New Quarter Park habitat is surrounded by forest, marshlands, hiking paths, and a little-used access road with flat, mowed shoulders.
A pair of Bobwhite bond in early spring and nest from April to September. They make their nest in areas of scattered grass, forbs, and seedling trees where there may be a moderate amount of leaf and other organic litter from the previous year. A brood of Bobwhites stay together in the field of low, growing plant material from June to October. In the Fall, birds shuffle to escape prey and seek protection in dense cover provided by vine-filled thickets, woodlots, hedgerows, and fencerows.
A healthy population of Bobwhite reaches a density of one bird per acre, or more if managed.
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