Chester River Field Research Center
Northern Bobwhite Quail Restoration Initiative
Male and Female Northern Bobwhite
Once common on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the Northern Bobwhite has been in serious decline for decades. It is declining on Breeding Bird Survey routes throughout its range at rates of 3% per year and in Maryland at over 5% per year since the 1960’s. The main cause of its demise has been the radical change in the regional landscape brought about by modern agriculture and the loss of open space to development. In cooperation with Maryland DNR and Tall Timbers Research Station, we have begun a regional effort to restore quail populations. In addition to monitoring known populations, we hope to engage local landowners in restoring habitats beneficial to quail. This includes creating hedgerows and scrubby areas and planting shrubs that are both a food source and winter protective cover. We hope to be a valuable resource for those undertaking quail restoration projects and to provide education and support as needed.