This past month on the Research Ranch we completed fall covey call counts. These counts are part of the suite of monitoring activities we do on an annual basis to gauge population abundance. The counts this year averaged 4.3 coveys per stop indicating similar abundance to last year. The long-term average is 6.6 coveys per stop. Four coveys heard per stop is considered low to moderate abundance. Based on roadside survey data during September, the average covey size is approximately 11 birds. Loosely, this equates to a fall density of a bird per 4 acres.
