By Kim Price

A year ago when Covey Rise began publishing, our goal was to provide information from various sources to aid in the restoration of bobwhite quail populations across the country. After just 12 months, we have found there is more attention than ever before being placed on the subject of quail population resurgence.

Many states are cooperating with local and federal officials and private landowners to spread information that will help restore a viable habitat for the bobwhite.

It was documented long before we came onto the picture that a proper habitat is one of, if not the most important ingredient for the resurgence of quail populations.

We have heard from thousands of you about why you think populations have declined. You have shared your hunting stories and photos, talked with us many, many times and invited us into your homes and preserves to allow us to see what you are doing to help restore bobwhite populations.
It has truly amazed us and we are humbled by your response to our publication. We thank you for your support of our publication. We are even more impressed with your dedication to help correct the bobwhite populations.

We have published data from many experts in the last year about why quail populations have been on a steady decline in many states since the early 60's. Some states are still seeing decreasing populations in the range of six percent to eight percent - and many are greater. A national decline of 65 percent is often reported as the drop in the population of bobwhites nationwide since the 80’s.
Research has proven to be an effective element in this restoration process. Without the ongoing research of wildlife biologists, quail populations would be much worse than they have become in many areas.

Researchers have shown that it is not just food, water and cover that are necessary for the survival of the bobwhite. There are many factors coming to light that even the early quail researchers never discovered in their 1900's research.

Keeping with that regiment, the premier quail research station in America, Tall Timbers, is helping landowners in the Red Hills and all across the country as they probe many different quail projects.
During 2003 alone, Tall Timbers began three new projects, increasing the overall number of long-term investigations to 12. Studies cannot be completed in days or weeks, but it takes years to get solid results.

It takes consistent monitoring by researchers to determine how quail populations vary and why.
The answers provide clues to researchers at Tall Timbers and many other places. Professors and student researchers at universities in Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama (and many others), are conducting ongoing research, such as that by doctoral candidates like Travis Folk, who has written about his research in this issue.

The participation and dedication among researchers in the public and private sectors have increased the data available in all sectors. The federal government's recognition of quail habitat in the Farm Bill of 2003 was a significant step for habitat restoration among private landowners trying to improve quail populations.

The momentum is building and from all indications there is a steady effort in many states to help restore bobwhite populations across the country.

We will support and encourage other states to step to the plate in coming months. Quail have their rightful place among wildlife and conservation agencies. The subject just needs more attention from government officials who control the purse strings.

This restoration of populations will not be done overnight. It has taken almost 25 years to get us to the point through declining populations. Even before researchers realized quail were disappearing from the landscape, they were working to find answers. Much of that work has come to fruition and today landowners are realizing that something can be done if their land is to occupy quail again.
Whether the research involves predation, winter survivability, supplemental feeding, releasing pen-raised quail into the wild or understanding the reproductive nature of the magnificent bobwhite, the studies must continue.

With the support of serious quail hunters, cooperation among local, state and federal entities and research from the ever so generous private foundations, the bobwhite populations will one day return to our landscape in larger numbers.

We're not sure if quail can ever return to the numbers they were in the days Daddy took us on those long walks through the woods and flushed a wild covey every 40 or 50 yards.
But a year into this project, we're staying the course and we thank you for your continued support. Together, we can make a difference. Most of all, all of our fathers and grandfathers who took us on those hunts would be proud of our efforts.

See you on the next Covey Rise.

Kim N. Price is the publisher of Covey Rise. Covey Rise is a monthly publication based in Alexander City, AL, reaching 9,100 serious quail hunters, preserve and plantation owners, dog breeders and trainers. The publication focuses on quail hunting and quail habitat management and restoration. To subscribe to Covey Rise visit www.coveyrise.net or contact the office at 256-409-1865 for subscription information.