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Upland bird season outlook very gloomy
Jim Matthews
10/17/07
Almost no production and a declining number of holdover birds points to a tough quail and chukar hunting season for Southern California hunters who will take to the field Saturday for the season opener.
"It looks pretty grim," said Bill Dobbs, the habitat chairman for the High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited. "There are birds around, but it's going to be rough hunting. Be prepared to do a lot of hiking."
Dobbs said the desert QU chapter did a dozen brood counts for the Department of Fish and Game, and the number of juvenile birds was way down, with almost no production.
Andy Pauli, the DFG biologist for the Mojave, said "there was nothing in the way of production this year out in the open desert. And it's going to be really tough next year if we don't get some rain."
Pauli said he was a little surprised at the number of holdover birds still coming to desert springs and guzzlers. These are mostly birds that were hatched two or more seasons ago because last year's production was as bad as this year. While Pauli counted 46 adult chukar at a guzzler in the West Mojave, he said most of the QU counts only had from six to 20 chukar, and West Mojave quail have all but disappeared again.
Two seasons ago, because of good late winter and early spring rains, the desert birds had a tremendous production year. Counts of over 300 birds were made at several desert water sources, and in one four mile stretch near Barstow, QU members counted just under 1,000 chukar crossing the road in one direction (so as to not double count). Dobbs said they saw at least twice as many birds flushing or never crossing the road on that rolling survey.
Both Pauli and Dobbs have seen it worse in the West Mojave.
"There have been years when I'd only see one or two birds, and then the next year there'd be 200. It's really amazing how they can come back. Now, we're just hoping for a good, wet winter," said Pauli.
Because of the drought conditions, Pauli said the volunteers from Quail Unlimited and the Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep have been working overtime this year hauling water to drinkers that are nearly dry to provide water for birds and bighorn.
Both QU and SCBS will need volunteers into the fall to check on and help haul water for wildlife. To volunteer, you can call Gary Thomas at SCBS at 909-981-5487 or via e-mail at g.cranky@verizon.net. You can also visit the sheep society's web site at http://www.scbs-californiadesertbighorn.com/ for more information. The High Desert Chapter contacts are Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or by e-mail at fathercruz@verizon.net. You can call Dobbs at 760-947-7823 to find out about the next QU work project.
So far this year, both groups have hauled thousands of gallons of water to fill up dry or drying water sources. It's a job that won't be over until the first fall rains come to the desert.
Jim Matthews
10/17/07
Almost no production and a declining number of holdover birds points to a tough quail and chukar hunting season for Southern California hunters who will take to the field Saturday for the season opener.
"It looks pretty grim," said Bill Dobbs, the habitat chairman for the High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited. "There are birds around, but it's going to be rough hunting. Be prepared to do a lot of hiking."
Dobbs said the desert QU chapter did a dozen brood counts for the Department of Fish and Game, and the number of juvenile birds was way down, with almost no production.
Andy Pauli, the DFG biologist for the Mojave, said "there was nothing in the way of production this year out in the open desert. And it's going to be really tough next year if we don't get some rain."
Pauli said he was a little surprised at the number of holdover birds still coming to desert springs and guzzlers. These are mostly birds that were hatched two or more seasons ago because last year's production was as bad as this year. While Pauli counted 46 adult chukar at a guzzler in the West Mojave, he said most of the QU counts only had from six to 20 chukar, and West Mojave quail have all but disappeared again.
Two seasons ago, because of good late winter and early spring rains, the desert birds had a tremendous production year. Counts of over 300 birds were made at several desert water sources, and in one four mile stretch near Barstow, QU members counted just under 1,000 chukar crossing the road in one direction (so as to not double count). Dobbs said they saw at least twice as many birds flushing or never crossing the road on that rolling survey.
Both Pauli and Dobbs have seen it worse in the West Mojave.
"There have been years when I'd only see one or two birds, and then the next year there'd be 200. It's really amazing how they can come back. Now, we're just hoping for a good, wet winter," said Pauli.
Because of the drought conditions, Pauli said the volunteers from Quail Unlimited and the Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep have been working overtime this year hauling water to drinkers that are nearly dry to provide water for birds and bighorn.
Both QU and SCBS will need volunteers into the fall to check on and help haul water for wildlife. To volunteer, you can call Gary Thomas at SCBS at 909-981-5487 or via e-mail at g.cranky@verizon.net. You can also visit the sheep society's web site at http://www.scbs-californiadesertbighorn.com/ for more information. The High Desert Chapter contacts are Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or by e-mail at fathercruz@verizon.net. You can call Dobbs at 760-947-7823 to find out about the next QU work project.
So far this year, both groups have hauled thousands of gallons of water to fill up dry or drying water sources. It's a job that won't be over until the first fall rains come to the desert.
