Censusing quail (Vict.)

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.