I absolutely love coming here to Backyard Chickens, with such a vast community of fowl loving people. But I wanted to touch on a little known subject that I feel is very important to those bird loving people out there "The Decline of the Bobwhite Quail in America". 100 years ago, we probably could never imagine Bobwhite Quail being an Endangered Species. They were everywhere!! Now, over the past 10 years or so, their numbers in the wild have declined so much, that they are now on the "Threatened Species" list...who would have thought?! But in just about every state this beautiful, and yes delicious bird is found, their numbers are declining so fast, that programs to save them have begun to spring up everywhere. How can this be possible??? Well, as humans continue to "take up space", we also continue to destroy the natural environments of many animals, including the Bobwhite Quail. Weather changes, etc. And since this beloved bird has so many predators, including man, because they are a tasty dish, as we push them out of their natural environments, they are beginning to disappear. Ask any quail hunter and they will tell you. So as lovers of all things feathered, I think it is important that everyone knows their dilema, and maybe we can all work together to make sure we never lose this wonderful bird. I'll confess, this is why I chose to get a couple as pets, because I wanted to experience them before they are gone forever. Hopefully that will not happen, but it's important that people know this is an issue. Here are a few reports and articles from different Bobwhite states, that will let you know I do not lie. https://www.tennessean.com/story/ne...l-tennessee-state-bird-bob-doochin/918487002/
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/jul/22/federal-funding-to-help-recover-quail-i/
https://www.southeastfarmpress.com/where-have-all-quail-gone
AND THAT IS ONLY A FEW, THERE ARE MANY MORE!
Fortunately, there are farmers and conservationists, and even government programs, that are stepping in. But we should all appreciate the gravity that a loss of this kind would be. So if you don't want to see the Bobwhite disappear in the wild, and you want to help, I would contact your local Wildlife people, and join in to save the Bobwhite!! If you already have an abundance of them in captivity, maybe think about aiming to have an aviary just for wild release? Or whatever you can do. I sure would hate to see them disappear, only to be read about in the history books. SAVE THE BOBWHITES IN AMERICA!!!
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/jul/22/federal-funding-to-help-recover-quail-i/
https://www.southeastfarmpress.com/where-have-all-quail-gone
AND THAT IS ONLY A FEW, THERE ARE MANY MORE!
Fortunately, there are farmers and conservationists, and even government programs, that are stepping in. But we should all appreciate the gravity that a loss of this kind would be. So if you don't want to see the Bobwhite disappear in the wild, and you want to help, I would contact your local Wildlife people, and join in to save the Bobwhite!! If you already have an abundance of them in captivity, maybe think about aiming to have an aviary just for wild release? Or whatever you can do. I sure would hate to see them disappear, only to be read about in the history books. SAVE THE BOBWHITES IN AMERICA!!!
