Call of the quail

bauerline

bauerline

Well-known member
I was fishing in a pond close to where I released the quail from the johnny house last month and I could hear the faint call of a bobwhite quail. I looked around in the edge of the woods and I saw a male quail. A short time later I saw a hen quail hanging out with him. I also saw another hen hanging out by herself. I think the remaining birds are starting to pair up. Last week I saw a group of at least 17 birds and now I'm just seening the pair and a single hen. At least I hope they're starting to pair up. Here is a pic of the male I heard calling:
IMG_20120402_145245.jpg
 
OK.....what's going on! Is the cover that good in the area that they were released? That's real good survival.
Maybe the JH enables them to assimilate to the area, so when they are released they have a better start!
 
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I think the JH allowed them to get used to the area and still get protection from the pen. And I think running the dogs on them helped get them used to being chased and "hunted" by something. I must say that this group of birds have always hid in the cover and I never saw them walking around in the open. I see the hawks and hear owls in the evening but so far the quail seem to be holding on. I'm tempted to see if I can find some others deeper in the woods but I don't want to disturb them. The ones I've been seeing have been on the edge. I'll keep checking the area throughout the spring and summer to see how things go. I have a 2nd johnny house to put on the back part of the field so I'll have twice the amount of birds to work with starting in July.
 
I was doing some work in the area I last saw the quail and I heard at least 3 different birds calling today. I was able to whistle and get them to call back to me. It was pretty neat. They were calling from deeper in the woods today.
 
I was back down in the area and I heard the quail calling again. I used my phone to try and pick up the calls. I think you should be able to hear it.
 
That's pretty neat! We definitely have to do all we can to bring wild quail back to pa.! You said you were going to build another JH, I was wondering why?
 
The club where I have the JH asked me to build another JH. I made it out of scrap material that was collected over time. It will be put in the back of the CREP area several hundred yards away from the other JH. None of the quail from the first JH go back that far (except when I let them all go in March maybe) so hopefully the 2nd JH goes as well as the first. And since the club pays for the food, birds and owns the land I figured I should give it a go. It is nice to hear them in the evening when fishing at the pond.
 
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Brian

If want to get a Quail Forever Chapter started in that area, count us in! We won't be able to participate in much because of the distance, but I will help however I can.

Dan
 
Thanks for the offer, Dan. I think a QF chapter will be looked into but I'm not sure how many people we can get involved. We have a tough time with the local PF chapter getting people out and at least there are some pheasants to hunt from the PGC. With there being no open quail season and pretty much no quail I think most people will wonder why they should bother. But I think it is at least worth a try. Perhaps our PF chapter could help with the quail effort in Adams county without starting a QF chapter. What are your thoughts about the PF chapter working in that area instead of starting a QF chapter? I think the same people who would be interested in the quail would be the same ones interested in pheasants. The future will be interesting for sure.
 
In a lot of areas, the QF and PF Chapters are one in the same, the only difference is the banquets for fund raising purposes. Shon Robbins, as you know is in charge of both organizations in your area. I think Lynn's Chapter has also started a QF Chapter.
It doesn't take a lot of people to get things done, you would be amazed what a dozen people can accomplish! I think a lot of non- hunters would be willing to help with the quail project.
 
I wish we had a dozen people! With our PF meetings and events we have about 4-5 guys who help plus my wife. A couple others will volunteer at our youth hunt. When we ask people about joining our chapter they respond with "What's in it for me"? But you might be right about more people wanting to help with the quail project. Maybe if we can tie it in with the historical aspect of Gettysburg we can get some of the civil war people involved.
 
There are still some of the quail around. When the guys were mowing today a single quail flushed into the woods. I saw a single hen last week around some cool season grass. I hope there are others around.
 
I was doing some chainsaw work today close to the area I released the quail. When I was taking a break I heard a quail call from the woods. It was a nice sound to hear in the morning. I hope others are still around.
 
I have not looked real hard for any nesting. I walk the edges of the woods but when I hear birds they are pretty deep into the woods. I took the dogs back one day when it was cool last week and they did point in a section of the field but I pulled them out and left the area alone. Could have been anything in there. Cat, rabbit or bird? Who knows? I did see a half eaten pheasant egg 6-8 weeks ago but that's about it. In another few weeks I'll check the area over better with dogs when it's cooler. A better chance of finding any holdovers or newly hatched birds might happen in 2-3 weeks when I get a new round of quail for the johnny houses.

I did take a picture of Nittany when he pointed in the field:
IMG_20120606_135517.jpg


If I find anything out there I'll let you know.

I have been told there are still hen and rooster pheasants around the area. I know not to expect much but it is good to hear and see them around.
 
Picked up the new batch of quail today for the johnny house. I have 25 in one JH and 23 in a 2nd JH. I did have 25 in each but two escaped when I tried to make an adjustment after I put them in. I'm curious to see if any of last year's survivors come back around. Just have to wait and see.
 
If their are in the area, you will see them! Most will recapture themselves, I had many times captured wild birds in johnny houses, sometimes three at a time. They are the ones that are flailing around and bruising their heads to get free. I let them out quickly, only to recapture them later. The do good for the pen raised birds because them no the ropes outside, and can adapted the new recruits. It's heck of a hobby! I learn more about keeping the birds, lifestyles, year round, than I did hunting them. Course it does wonders for the dogs, just catch and release.
 
You guys are both lucky to be able to have and use the Johny Houses. My property is 3 hours away, so I don't think it would be fair to the birds as far as food and watering.
Brian, can't wait to hear if any of the birds from last year return to your JH.Do you band your birds?
 
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