The Effect of Supplemental Feed on Scaled Quail and Their Fall-Winter Diets in Trans-Pecos, Texa

Scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) are considered an important upland gamebird in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Scaled quail have declined since the early 1960s for largely unknown reasons. Studies on scaled quail are important in understanding their ecology and identifying factors that can increase their populations. One way to help bolster populations is to increase available forage for quail. Limited research has been conducted on scaled quail diets in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas; therefore, research is needed to help determine their food habits in this region. To better understand the diets of scaled quail in areas where supplemental feed is provided, this study was conducted with the following objectives: 1) determine quail block feeder utilization by other wildlife in the study area, 2) determine scaled quail diets on ranches with supplemental feed in the Trans-Pecos area, and 3) analyze scaled quail crops to determine how much of their diet comes from supplemental feed. To assess the scaled quail diets, two study sites were utilized: the Apache Mountains that are located within Culberson County, Texas and the Santiago Mountains that are located within Brewster County, Texas. Game cameras were placed in the Apache Mountains at randomly selected quail block feeders. Game camera pictures were analyzed to determine the usage of the quail block by non-target species in the area. Visitation rates of scaled quail were 19.4% and mourning doves were 23.98%. Doves were the highest among 29 species identified at the quail block feeders during the summer months of 2014 and 2015. Quail crops were collected to assess usage of supplemental feed from the Apache Mountains study site and the Santiago Mountain Range study site. Scaled quail from the Apache Mountains had greater diversity in their diets when compared to scaled quail in the Santiago Mountains. Quail crops from the Santiago Mountain study site indicated quail primarily consumed the supplemental feed provided, which accounted for 91.62% of the diet in 2013 and 77.28% of the diet in 2014.