During the Spring of 2024, the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch sought to engage fellow quail enthusiasts in a Citizen Scientist project. We called it “Can You Hear Me Now.” The idea was to encourage as many people as possible to conduct at least 3 Spring Whistle Counts across Texas (and beyond) during the 3rd week of May and submit their observations to us for analysis. Our goal was to take a snapshot of quail breeding activity/intensity across Texas.
Twenty-five people turned in a total of 118 whistle counts. Most submitted 2-3 observations, others submitted 5-6, some submitted 20+. Accordingly, to standardize the data, as there were varying amounts of effort between samplers(ranchers/landowners), scores were calculated from the counts of each sampler and the time spent sampling. The outputs were ratios that were then summarized by county. The map below displays the average scores by county, ranging from 0 to 1, 1 being the highest count to time ratios.
Not surprisingly, observers in the Rolling Plains and South Texas had the greatest encounter rate and higher count numbers. Maybe the most encouraging result were the positive observations in the Cross-Timbers, Coastal Plains and Eastern Piney Woods (western LA) ecoregions. Although the number of quail heard calling was low (compared to the Rolling Plains), it’s encouraging to document small populations are still holding on in these regions. – by Dr. Dan Foley, III
