Missouri Department of Conservation in partnership with University of Missouri evaluated patterns in quail abundance, survival, reproduction, and habitat use on five Conservation Areas in southwest Missouri 2014-2018.
Continuous native grasslands are the preferred, usable habitat for northern bobwhite year round and birds see higher survival, reproduction, and population growth rates on conservation areas with larger prairies and less strip crop or tree cover. In winter months shrubby vegetation is important to coveys and in the summer fire and grazing disturbance improves brood habitat.
The project team included MDC staff Tom Thompson, Frank Loncarich, Kyle Hedges, Nick Burrell, and Matt Hill. MU researchers and graduate research assistants included Frank Thompson (USDA FS), Mitch Weegman, Emily Sinnott, and Alisha Mosloff.