My research lab at UGA has started a Facebook Page. Go to @gamelabUGA to find it. Also, on twitter @gamelabUGA and instagram @martingamelab.
Thanks
Thanks. I know that there are waaaaay less birds than even 30 years ago, but I just thought it was strange that I saw birds in areas that I hadn't seen birds in 20 plus years.With the except of the late summer drought in parts of GA last year, weather conditions over the past few years has been good. It has contributed to small increases in quail in some areas. Sounds like, though, you are mostly coincidently spending your time in areas with resources for birds (e.g., clearcuts). Populations throughout the state still remain very low compared to 50 years ago with rare exception.
Plenty of birds in places that sacrifice financial returns and manage for them. That's not easy for most places as the property is utilized for its highest economic opportunity, which may be apartments, row crop farmland, shopping centers, homes, timber, ect.
Whatever might be done to bring them back will cost mega bucks either in actual dollars or in opportunity costs.
Definitely the opportunity costs as every property around these days that has a good to very good quail population is investing in the property every year. Year-round feeding, burning, hardwood spraying, and discing are pretty basic management techniques, all while limiting timber production. Mixed into all of that is labor, fuel, equipment maintenance, ect. That's why most of the better quail hunting places go on the market by the 3rd generation of ownership. Mr Big buys the place, his kids later enjoy it, but after the ownership gets splintered among the grandkids around the country who soon then learn that have to feed their interest in some property, they say, "Sell!"
You can definitely combine financial interests in a property with a managed hunting interest; what that balance is comes down to the owner. But even that step would require marginalizing the quail habitat from what it's maximum could be.
Or 10K acres of ag fields that may be nothing but bare dirt come winter time.A lot of truth to this. However, a person with a decent size tract of land (500 acres) can have huntable numbers of wild birds without breaking the bank. But, that 500 acres can't be just anywhere. It needs to be in a good landscape--not surrounded by 10,000 acres of closed canopy pine.
Our woods and fields are full of birds too. In the last couple of years, they`ve made a fine comeback.
That’s great to hear. What are some of the things you’re doing to reach that point? Doesn’t just happen! ?