Mountain quail research: annual report 1999

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In 1995, the Game Bird Research Program at Oregon State University initiated a mountain quail research project in response to concerns over the decline of mountain quail populations in the Intermountain Region and the lack of basic biological information on this species. The goal of this project was to compare the life history attributes of a translocated population of quail (captured in Douglas County and released in Wallowa County), a native population of mountain quail in Wallowa County, and a native population of mountain quail in Douglas County. In 1997-1999, researchers captured, radio-tagged, and released 235 mountain quail in these counties. Seventy-five mountain quail were captured in Douglas County, fitted with radio transmitters, and released in Trail Creek and Devil's Gulch in Wallowa County in winters 1997-1998. Eighty-six native mountain quail were captured and released with radio transmitters in Douglas County, and 74 native mountain quail were trapped and released with radio transmitters in Horse Creek in Wallowa County in 1997-1999. In spring and summer 1997-1999 researchers located 56 nests for mountain quail in Douglas and Wallowa Counties. Seventeen nests were produced by reintroduced mountain quail Wallowa County. Twenty-two nests were produced by native mountain quail in Douglas County and 17 nests by native mountain quail in Wallowa County. In 1999, researchers used temperature-sensitive data loggers to determine incubation patterns for male and female resident mountain quail in Douglas and Wallowa counties. Mountain quail were away from nests for longer periods during the first 2 weeks of incubation, and most birds were away from nests 2 times daily: early morning and late evening. Winter ranges and spring breeding ranges differed for many resident mountain quail in Douglas County and reintroduced mountain quail in Wallowa County, with many birds moving 3 to 30 km to breeding ranges. Annual mortality rates varied from 1997 to 1999, but for combined years were similar for resident quail in Douglas and Wallowa Counties and reintroduced birds in Wallowa County, with a total 126 of 235 (54%) mountain quail depredated during the 3 years of this project. An additional objective of this research was to determine diet selection of mountain quail in an area (southwest OR) where populations are abundant and compare this information with that of previous studies on mountain quail diet selection in California, western Idaho, and southeastern Washington. In fall 1995-96, 61 crops were collected from mountain quail killed by hunters in Douglas County; these quail consumed portions of 47 plant species. However, legumes composed nearly 48% of total dry weight of items found in the crops, and berries were 21% of total dry weight. Seventy-two percent of all crops contained insect parts but were only 3% of total dry weight. Lotus spp. were found in 71% of crops and were nearly 40% of total dry weight. Mountain quail will be collected in winter 2000 to supplement winter collections of 1998-99 for further crop analysis. Data collected from 1997-1999 on radio-tagged mountain quail will be analyzed in fall 1999 and winter/spring 2000 to determine habitat relationships, survival, movement patterns, reproductive behavior, nest site selection, incubation patterns, and diet selection. In spring and summer 2000 researchers intend to initiate an effort to determine the daily survival of mountain quail chicks in Horse Creek in northeastern OR by radio-marking chicks during the first week after hatching and monitoring chick survival for 3 weeks after hatching.

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Reference Code: U00CRA02IDUS

Full Citation: Crawford, J., and M. Pope. 2000. Mountain quail research: annual report 1999. Game Bird Research Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 38 pp.

Location: ANIMAL EF: OREORTYX PICTUS