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QUAIL HABITAT:  On the Ground
When thinking about cover, too many times folks get tunnel vision and forget what's really important.  To get the real picture of what bobwhite quail need, we need to view it from their level.  The pictures on the left shows a 3' pole from ten feet away.  At the bottom of the pole, a golf ball was placed on the ground, representative of a 2 week old quail chick.  The corresponding shot on the right shows us what this tiny bird sees, perhaps as he's foraging for insects or trying to escape from a predator.  Camera is 3 inches off the ground, approximately 18 inches from the ball.  All photos taken on the same date in late June 2009.
Native planting that was burned in early spring.  Photo taken in late-June.  Notice the mixture of heights.


This picture is of an overgrown hayfied.  Actually, it was taken less than 50' from the previous one.  At a glance, it doesn't look too bad, but upon closer inspection.....


The alternative, a native warm season grass stand.  By mid-summer, these grasses have attained heights from 3 to 6 feet, even after being completely burned off in April.


This strip was disced to bare soil in March.  Common ragweed, crabgrass, and other forbs quickly took advantage of the open conditions.  The golf ball was impossible to see from overhead.

Ground level. Grasses are open enough to allow travel and offer moderate overhead cover.


The real story:  matted fescue has created an impenetrable jungle at ground level.  The golf ball can barely be seen.  A quail chick would have no chance of making it through this cover.


Though the grasses appear dense from above, they show ample travel corridors below.  Grasses grow in bundles, spreading like umbrellas over the birds, affording superior protection.


The aggressive crabgrass has made this area more dense than we'd like, but it's much better than if nothing had been done.  Ragweed seeds are relished by quail year-round.