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Censusing quail (Vict.)

To: <>, <>
Subject: Censusing quail (Vict.)
From: "David Parker" <>
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 14:55:24 -0800

Martin,

 

No thoughts as to a successful method of censusing quails such as King Quail, however the use of ropes dragged through suitable habitat is one which should not be recommended or encouraged.

 

People have employed this technique in grassland habitats such as the Terricks (in northern Victoria for those not aware) to search for Plains-wanderers, and were, like others employing this technique, unsuccessful. The impact that this technique may have on ground birds, while not fully known, may include injury to a bird, and the damage to and destruction of nests and eggs. Not something particularly desirable in threatened species management. Then there are other species to consider.

 

One method I have used when searching partially flooded grasslands (due to excessive rainfall) for Plains-wanderers is to walk through an area with three or more people spaced at a suitable distance. We picked up Plains-wanderers, and also Stubble Quail, Little Button-quail, Pipits, and Songlarks. A reminder would be that this was undertaken at night and not in habitat like on French Island. Whether the technique can be employed during the daytime would be one that could be worth testing.

 

Cheers

David Parker

 

Deniliquin, NSW

 

 

 

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Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Censusing quail (Vict.)
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Am interested in list members skills and experience wit censusing quail, in particular King Quail.

The species is listed as a threatened taxon under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act and Friends of French Island (FoFI) are keen to check for the presence of the species at its main locality in the state (French Island).

Parks Victoria rangers have put the birds up while slashing fire breaks on French Island but the birds are otherwise very difficult to flush and census.  In the past I know that FoFI members have used a rope held between two people dragged over suitable habitat as a technique but this failed to result in any quail being recorded.

Does anyone have advice, references or other information that provides insights on how to census quail in dense, often damp habitats?

Look forward to any responses.

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