Living on the Edge

The Northern bobwhite quail is a species that lives at forests’ edges. Before the removal of much of Ohio’s forest land by settlers, quail survived where woodlands and prairies came together, and in areas naturally cleared of timber. Bobwhite numbers initially soared as settlers cleared land for farming and removed trees for lumber, but its population has experienced a decline in distribution of about 69% since 2002. Habitats that once benefited bobwhites have been lost to forest succession in eastern Ohio and to modern agricultural practices and urbanization in western Ohio.

In Ohio, bobwhite populations have been monitored since 1985 by an annual roadside survey conducted each June to detect whistling males. The survey is currently conducted in 29 counties throughout southern Ohio. The male’s characteristic song is a cheery, whistled “bob-white!” — often delivered from high in a tree. They feed on seeds, plant matter, and invertebrates.

Learn more about bobwhites in Ohio: http://ow.ly/ICBX30n6z4f