V9et

Mountain Quail Oreortyxpictus

Distribution and Conservationin the

Eastern Portion of Their Range

Prepared for

Idaho Department of Fish Game 600 Walnut P.O Box 25 Boise Idaho 83707

Prepared by

Christine Vogel

Private Consultant P.O Box 214 McCall Idaho 83638-02 14

Dr Kerry Reese Professor

College of Natural Resources

University of Idaho Moscow Idaho 83844-1136

18 October 2002 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Executive Summary

In the early 1900s mountain quail Oreortyxpictus were found throughout California

Idaho Nevada Oregon Washington and Baja Norte Mexico During the past several decades mountain quail numbers have declined and their distribution has been shrinking throughout the

United States except in California and western Oregon This document summarizes

reports and publications that have become available since the Habitat Conservation Assessment

for Mountain Quail Vogel and Reese 1995 We present current information on mountain quail

distribution status biology ecology and management throughout the eastern portion of their

includes northern range The eastern portion of the range western Idaho Nevada eastern

Oregon and southeastern Washington 26

Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Figures Tables iv

Introduction

Purpose Goals

Methods

Status of the Species

General Description of Status

Historical Distribution

Idaho Populations .7

Nevada Populations 13

Oregon Populations 17

Washington Populations 17

Habitat 21

Idaho Habitat 21

Nevada Habitat 23

Eastern Oregon Habitat 23

Eastern Washington Habitat 24

Other Habitats 25

Ecological Requirements 25

Reproduction

Reproductive Ecology Success 26

Population Parameters 32

Covey Size 32

Survival 33

Predation 37

Age Sex Ratios 39

Models Techniques 39

Determining Age Sex 39

Habitat Relationships 40

Translocation Procedures 41 Mountain Quad Distribution and Conservation jjj

Table of Contents Continued

Current and Future Work 41

Idaho 41

Nevada 42

Eastern Oregon 43

Eastern Washington 45

Acknowledgements 47

Personal Communications Contacts 48

Literature Cited .- 49

Appendix Mountain Quail Food Plants 54

Appendix Mountain Quail Observation Reports 58 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation iv

Figures Tables

Figure Historical distribution reintroduction sites archeological sites and cusrent sighting

locations of mountain quail in Idaho

Figure Detail of current sighting locations for mountain quail in northern Idaho

Figure Detail of current sighting locations for mountain quail in west-central Idaho.. 10

Figure Detail of current sighting locations for mountain quail in southern Idaho 11

Figure Historical distribution of mountain quail in Nevada 14

Figure Areas where mountain quail are most frequently observed and reintroduction sites of

mountain quail in Nevada ... 15

Figure Historical distribution reintroduction sites and current sighting locations of mountain

quail in eastern Oregon 18

Figure Historical distribution and current sighting locations of mountain quail in eastern

Washington 20

Table Hunting bag/possession limits and season dates for mountain quail in Idaho Nevada

Oregon and Washington

Table Mountain quail releases in Nevada from 1986 to 2002 16

Table An estimate of historical and current relative abundance of mountain quail in 17

Oregon counties 19

Table Nest site habitat characteristics measured in three Oregon study areas 22

Table Proportion of locations of mountain quail in cover types under different snow depths

during fall and winter 1994/1995 and 1995/1996 Little Salmon River study area

Idaho 27

Table Spring and sunmier survival estimates for radio-marked mountain quail in the Little

Salmon River study area Idaho 34

Table Monthly survival estimates during spring and summer for mountain quail in the Little

Salmon River study area Idaho 1992 1995 35

Table Predator type and percent of total mortalities of mountain quail in the Little Salmon

River study area Idaho 38 Introduction

Although the mountain quail Oreorlyxpictus is the largest quail in North America its

secretive behavior and use of dense vegetation in rugged terrain make it challenging species to

study When pursued by humans this quail generally will not flush but will run deeper into thick

cover making observations difficult Many mountain quail populations exist in relatively low

densities in fragmented habitat and birds may complete an altitudinal migration in the spring and

efforts citations fall of each year further confounding research Although over 350 refer to

mountain quail most of these accounts are anecdotal and do not contain substantial information

about their status habitat reproduction ecological requirements or biology As result less is

known about the basic life history and ecology of mountain quail than any other species of native

upland game bird in the Grinnell et al 1918 Bent 1963 Gutiérrez 1977 Brennan 1989

1990 Gutiénez and Delehanty 1999

Purpose Goals

In 1995 we developed Habitat Conservation Assessment for Mountain Quail Vogel

and Reese 1995 The Habitat Conservation Assessment HCA was comprehensive review of

all available information pertaining to mountain quail throughout the The purpose of this

document is to compile information on mountain quail distribution status biology ecology and

management that has become available since the HCA was written This report focuses on

research conducted in the eastern portion of the mountain quails range We define the eastern

portion of their range as western Idaho northern Nevada eastern east of the Cascade Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Mountains Oregon and southeastern Washington This is technical document that will

support development of cooperative efforts among wildlife management agencies and may

eliminate the need for duplicate efforts by various agencies Refer to Vogel and Reese 1995 for

additional information on habitat availability of suitable habitat population parameters models

and techniques research needs and known and potential threats Refer to Gutiérrez and

Delehanty 1999 for comprehensive review of literature until 1999 on mountain quail morphology distribution systematics migration habitat food habits nutrition and energetics

physiology vocalizations behavior breedih demography and populations conservation and

management molts and plumages and measurements throughout its range

The goals of this document are to

Identify the historical distribution and current sightings of mountain quail in western

Idaho northern Nevada eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington

Determine teintroduction sites of mountain quail in western Idaho northern Nevada

eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington

Summarize current knowledge since 1995 of the biology and ecology of the species

Identify current and future work being conducted throughout the eastern portion of the

range

Methods

We conducted thorough review of published literature and collected unpublished data

from state and federal wildlife management agencies in Idaho Nevada Oregon and Washington

After collating all available information we composed comprehensive review of the

distribution status biology ecology and management of mountain quail populations within the Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

eastern portion of their range The distribution and current sighting maps included in this report

are based on the best available information at this time and sources are cited in each map legend

Historical distribution is defined as the distribution of mountain quail at the time the source data

were published Historical distributions are approximations because authors often estimated

the entire range without conducting systematic surveys throughout area and estimates by different

authors often conflict In many areas in the eastern portion of their range mountain quail exist in

scattered populations in highly fragmented habitat Extrapolating from sighting information to

general distributions may inaccurately describe the actual distributions of mountain quail

particularly in areas with fragmented habitats Therefore current distribution of the species in

this report was described by actual sighting locations and we made no assumptions about actual

distribution

Status of the Species

General Description of Status

In response to declining populations the Department of the Interior USD0 listed

the mountain quail as Category Candidate Species under the Endangered Species Act in 1991

USD1 1991 This classification applied to U.S Fish and Wildlife Service USFWS Region which includes California Idaho Nevada Oregon and Washington Classification as Category

species emphasized the need to gain further knowledge about the status of the species and

identi remaining populations and suitable habitats

Although little new information became available this species was reclassified as

Category 3C species in Region in 1994 USD1 1994 Category species were more abundant Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

or widespread than previously thought or were not subject to an identifiable threat USD1 1994

This listing reflected the status of mountain quail in California and western Oregon where they

are more abundant but does not reflect the status of declining populations in Idaho Nevada eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington Morache et al 1985 Alcorn 1988 Robertson

1989 Brennan 1990 Washington Department of Wildlife WDW 1993 Brennan 1994

Rickerson et al 2002 Stiver pers commun.

In Idaho mountain quail are classified as Species of Special Concern by the Idaho

Department of Fish and Game IDFG and ia Sensitive Species by Region of the

Forest Service USFS and the Idaho Bureau of Land Management BLM Moseley and Groves

1990 Mountain quail hunting has been prohibited in Idaho since 1984 Table In Nevada

the harvest limit dropped to birds/day beginning in 1992 Stiver pers comniun. The

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife ODFW classify mountain quail as game bird

Hunters can harvest birds/day and possess total of in Wallowa and Klamath Counties of

eastern Oregon remaining eastern counties are closed to hunting ODFW 2002 Although the

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife WDFW classified the mountain quail as game

species hunting of mountain quail has been prohibited in eastern Washington since 1997

Cope pers commun. They are considered Priority Species by the WIFW and are on the

Priority Habitats and Species list J.S Brookshier pers commun.

In March 2000 Kavanaugh and Fite petitioned the USFWS to list the mountain quail of

the northern and western Great Basin and the Interior Columbia Basin and lands westward to the

Cascade Crest as threatened or endangered pursuant to the Endangered Species Act 20001

The petitioner suggested that the eastern range supported distinct population segment and

identified habitat destruction as the primary factor in population declines Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Table Hunting bag/possession limits and season dates for mountain quail in Idaho Nevada

Oregon and Washington 2002

Bag/Possession Limits Season Dates State County AgRreg Limiñ Idaho All 0/0 Closed since 1984

Nevada2 Clark 2/4 10/51/31 Esmeralda

Lincoln Nye Pahrump

Elizo 2/4 10/12 1/31

Eureka

Lander White Pine CC

Carson City 2/4 10/121/31 Churchill

Douglas Humboldt Lyon Mineral

Pershing

Storey Washoe

Pershing 2/4 11/21/31

Oregon3 Wallowa 2/2 10/5 12/31 Klamath

Remaining Counties 0/0 Closed

Oregon3 All Oregon 10/20 9/11/5 Hood River Wasco

Washington4 Eastern Counties 0/0 Closed since 1997

Western Counties 2/4 10/5 11/30

Total bag or possession limit for all species of quail combined

Sources

1ldaho Department of Fish and Game 2002

2Nevada Division of Wildlife 2002

3Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 2002

4Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 2002 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Although the American Ornithologists Union 1957 recognizes five subspecies of

mountain quail 0reorjapictuspalmeri pictus Op eremophilus russelfi and

confines the subspecies designations remain ambiguous Gutiérrez and Delehanty state that the subspecies delineation are based on poorly defined comparative and ill-marked plumage

characters therefore both subspecies designations and subspecies ranges are considered

and and dubious 19994 Some of the subspecies pictus palineri pictus and eremophilus

occupy the same geographical areas while others pictus and pa/men possess similar morphological characteristics Gutiérrez and Delehanty 1999 The characters defming

eremophi/us are particularly vague and this subspecies appears to be intermediate between

nominatepictus to the north and confinis to the south Gutiérrez and Delehanty 19994

Genetic analysis is needed to clearly identifS subspecies designations across the geographic range

of this species

Historical Distribution

Delineating the native historical distribution of the mountain quail is difficult for the

following reasons

complete record of past introductions is not available becausc releases were poorly

documented and included large number of agencies and private citizens Taylor 1923

Mountain releases not translocations quail were preceded by systematic surveys so may

have augmented indigenous populations in western Idaho northern Nevada eastern

Oregon and southeastern Washington

Historical literature is confounded by contradictory anecdotal accounts Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Introductions and translocations of mountain quail began as early as 1860 and continued

through the early 1950s Crawford 2000 Pope pers commun. During this time several authors documented the release of mountain quail in western Idaho and throughout Oregon and

Washington Baird et al 1874 Merrill 1898 Dawson and Bowles 1909 Phillips 1928 Taylor

1923 McLean 1930 Jewett et al 1953 In Nevada sportsmen ranchers and miners released

mountain quail across the state beginning in the 870s and continuing to the 930s or early 40s

but many of these releases were not documented Stiver pers commun.

Historical distribution in this document refers to past distribution without consideration

of native or introduced status References to historical distribution were cited and historical

distribution was defined as distribution of the species at the time the source data were published

Vogel and Reese 1995 and Crawford 2000 provided discussions of the historical distribution

of mountain quail Traditionally introduction has been used to define the release of species

into new range reintroduction refers to release of species into historical range that is no

longer inhabited by that species and supplementation is release of the species into currently

inhabited range Frequently the status of this species was not known prior to releases of

mountain quail In this report we use the terms releases or translocations to mean the

capture transport and release of mountain quail regardless of past or present occurrence of

mountain quail in that area

Idaho Populations

In Idaho mountain quail occur at the extreme northeastern edge of their distribution and

have been declining over the past several decades Figures According to Murray 1938

drought and habitat alterations reduced mountain quail numbers by more than 50% in western Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Figure Historical distribution shaded reintroduction sites archeological sites and current since 1980 sighting locations .of mountain quail in Idaho Commission 1951

Gruhn 1961 Ormiston 1966 Murphey 1991 Rudolph 1995 Crawford 2000 Cooke pers commun.

CUSTER Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Figure Detail of current sighting locations of mountain quail in northern Idaho Numbers correspond to the Idaho Conservation Data Centers occurrence numbers Cooke pers commun.

102 BONNER

KOOTENAI

LATAH CLEARWATER 088

103 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 10

Figure Detail of current sighting locations .of mountain quail in west-central Idaho

Numbers correspond to the Idaho Conservation Data Centers occurrence numbers Cooke pers commun.

103

084

O2tos 112 003

08% J53 02 26

073 046

oa4 72 poj 082

ii 12 og5ioa IDAHO 035

031

081 036 01t015

039 J$O 05% 466 05 079

093 ADAMS VALLEY Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 11

Figure Detail of current sighting locations of mountain quail in southern Idaho Numbers correspond to the Idaho Conservation Data Centers occurrence numbers Cooke pers

commun.

007 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Idaho while suitable food and cover were reduced by more than 50% since 1908 Mountain quail were present throughout the western half of Idaho and were found in the Boise Clearwater

Salmon and Snake river drainages in the 1930s Murray 1938 Ormiston 1966 In 1951

mountain quail were found along riparian areas in central and southwestern Idaho but numbers had been declining in Nez Perce and Latah counties since the 930s IDFG Commission 1951

Burleigh 197290 reported the species as locally common in suitable habitat in the western

part of the state as far north as Latah County Numbers have declined steadily since then and remaining populations exist in the lower Salmon Boise and Snake river drainages Robertson

1989

Mountain quail were considered an upland game bird and were legally hunted in Idaho until 1984 when declining populations prompted the IIDFG to close the hunting season

Robertson 1989 Brennan 199444 stated that surveys and hunter bag returns during the past

50 years indicate that mountain quail populations have experienced series of local extinctions across broad areas several thousand km2 in Idaho and Nevada In 1985 the IDFG Nongame

Management Plan classified the mountain quail as species of special concern with restricted ranges specific habitat requirements or low numbers which may make them vulnerable to elimination from the state Morache et al 198522 By 1985 areas in Idaho that historically had mountain quail no longer contained these birds Brennan 1990 Current distribution of mountain quail is limited to the lower Salmon River drainage and the Snake and Boise river drainages near Boise Robertson 1989

Three studies have revealed possible evidence of mountain quail in Idaho prior to the

1800s kuhn 1961 Murphey 1991 Rudolph 1995 Figure kuhn 1961 documented the occurrence of mountain quail bones in Wilson Butte Cave Jerome County south-central Idaho and dated remains at 425 150 years before present AD 1535 Murphey 1991 included rendition of pictograph found at the Jarbidge rock site southwestern Idaho Owyhee

County of an upland bird with distinct side bars and single head plume that could be mountain quail Rudolph 1995 identified mountain quail bones from the Hetrick site in the Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 13

Weiser River Valley Washington County and dated the stratum in which they occurred at approximately 1300 years Bone material collected from these archeological sites should be

positively verified by protein synthesis analysis These archeological findings may provide evidence that mountain quail existed in Idaho prior to historical releases

Nevada Populations

In northern Nevada mountain quail populations began to decline in the late 800s and by the 1970s this species wac rare or had been extirpated in much of its historical range Figures and However based on Nevada Division of Wildlife NDOW surveys in the Sierra Nevada

Mountains in Nevada distributions have remained stable Stiver pers commun. Gullion and Christensen 1957 showed disjunct sparse distribution of mountain quail in northern and western Nevada Since the 940s hunter surveys and harvest returns indicated that populations have undergone local extinctions throughout their historical range in Nevada Brennan 1994

Alcorn 1988 reported that mountain quail were rare in western Nevada and uncommon in northern central and southwestern portions of the state From the 195 Os to the 980s extensive range fires invasion by noxious weeds reservoir construction and overgrazing may have contributed to the elimination of large tracts of habitat and reduced mountain quail numbers and distribution throughout Nevada Stiver pers commun. Gutiérrez and Delehanty 1999 reported the presence of small scattered mountain quail populations in the Toiyabe Desatoya

Jackson and Santa Rosa Ranges of northern Nevada

Since 1986 NDOW has reintroduced mountain quail in Nye Churchill Pershing

Washoe Ellco and Lander counties in Nevada Sliver pers commun Table All birds were captured at the China Lakes Naval Air Weapons Station CLNAWS Mojave Desert

California Prior to release into Nevada habitats mountain quail were held in captivity at facilities at University of Nevada Reno prior to 2001 and at Idaho State University Pocatello since 2001 Sliver pers commun. Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 14

Figure Historical distribution shaded of mountain quail in Nevada Gullion and Christensen

1957 Stiver pers commun. Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 15

Figure Areas where mountain quail are most frequently observed shaded and reintroduction sites of mountain quail in Nevada Stiver pers cornmun. Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 16

Table Mountain quail releases in Nevada from 1986 to 2002 Stiver pers commun.

Number Date County Location Released

September 1986 Nye Ophir Canyon Toiyabe Range 50 September 1986 Nye Twin River Toiyabe Range 50

July/Aug 1993 Churchill Big Den Canyon Desatoya Range 20 July/Aug 1993 Churchill Cheny Creek Clan Alpine Range 20 July/Aug 1993 Churchill Topia Canyon Desatoya Range 40 July/Aug 1993 Churchill War Canyon Clan Alpine Range 20

July/Aug 1993 Pershing Buena Vista Creek 20

July/Aug 1993 Pershing John Brown Canyon 20

July/Aug 1993 Pershing star Canyon 20

July/Aug 1993 Washoe Peterson Mt 20

July 1993 Elko Bruneau River 20

July 1993 Elko Coffee Pot Creek 20

August 1993 Elko Rattlesnake Canyon 18 August 1994 Elko Meadow Creek 54

September 1994 Elko S.F Little Humboldt 86 Sep/Oct 1994 Washoe Thomas Creek 18

September 1995 Elko Kelly Creek Snowstorm Mts 45

September 1995 Elko S.F Little Humboldt 45

September 1995 Lander Veatch Canyon Toiyabe Range 45 December 1995 Elko Owyhee River 63 December 1995 Washoe Thomas Creek 27 June 1996 Washoe Thomas Creek 34

September 1997 Churchill Edwards Creek Desatoya Range 178 April 1998 Churchill Edwards Creek Desatoya Range 100 April 1999 Churchill Cherry Creek Clan Alpine Range 94 April 1999 Churchill War Canyon Clan Alpine Range 93

April 2000 Elko McDonald Creek 60

April 2001 Elko McDonald Creek 46

April 2002 Elko McDonald Creek 87

Total Mountain Quail Released 1293 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Oregon Populations

Gabrielson and Jewett 1940 reported that mountain quail were common in Crook

Jefferson Klamath Lake Wasco and Wallowa counties of Oregon and less abundant but present in nearly all other eastern counties Masson and Mace 1970 also reported mountain quail in suitable habitat throughout the state with the largest populations in the Coast and Cascade ranges and in Wallowa Baker and Malbeur counties of eastern Oregon Crawford 1980 reported that mountain quail were distributed statewide but their abundance in eastern Oregon was highly variable Figure Moutain quail are currently found in low numbers in Union Wallowa

Wasco and Wheeler counties are moderately abundant in Crook Deschutes Grant Jefferson

Klamath counties and are rare or absent in remaining eastern Oregon counties Jackie et al

2002 Table

Washington Populations

Following translocations of mountain quail from 1860 to the early 900s historical accounts reported mountain quail west of the Cascade Mountains and in the Blue Mountains in southeastern Washington Jewett et al 1953 Figure Distributions in western Washington

The remained stable but populations declined drastically in eastern Washington WDW 1993 distribution and abundance of mountain quail in Asotin Garfield and Columbia counties of southeastern Washington is largely unknown but is assumed to be minimal at best WDFW

200299 The WDFW documented 70 mountain quail sightings in eastern Washington from

1927 1996 12 sightings prior to 1969 16 sightings from 1970 1989 and 42 sightings since

1990 Brookshier pers commun. Sightings occurred in Asotin 29 Klickitat 10

Yakima Kinitas Columbia Whitman and Spokane each Chelan and Grant

Okanogan Skamania Stevens and Walla Walla each counties Brookshier pers commun. The 42 current sightings occurred in Asotin 11 Klickitat Kittitas Yakirna

Spokane Chelan and Columbia Grant Okanogan Skamania Stevens Walla Walla and Whitman each counties Brookshier pers commun. Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Figure Historical distribution unshaded and current since 1980 sighting locations .of mountain quail in eastern Oregon McClean 1930 Crawford 2000 JackIe et 2002 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 19

Table An estimate of historical and current relative abundance of mountain quail in 17

Oregon counties Jackie et al 2002

Relative Abundance

County Historical Current

Baker

Crook

Deschutes

Giiliam

Grant

Hamey

Jefferson

Klammath

Lake

Malheur

Morrow

Sherman

Umatilia

Union

Wallowa

Wasco

Wheeler

Relative Abundance Absent Rare Low Moderate High Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 20

Figure Historical distribution shaded and current since 1980 sighting locations .of mountain quail in eastern Washington Aldrich and Duvall 1955 Johnsgard 1975

Brookshier pers commun. Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Habitat

Idaho Habitat

al Spring Summer Habitats Herman et 2002 calculated mean home range size of

ha from 16 14 37 home range core areas in the Little Salmon River study area They utilized

65% fixed kernel method and ARC VIEW 3.2 to determine home range core areas Home range core area sizes were independent of year age or sex of mountain quail Herman et al 2002

The majority of the 1072 mountain quail locations occurred in riparian shrub 29% conifer shrub 27% and mountain shrub 22.4% cover types the remaining locations 21.6% occurred in and residential grass agriculture garden cover types Herman et al 2002 Quail locations were also closer to watercourses than random locations with mean distance to watercourses of

189 1992 216 1993 216 1994 and 136 1995 Herman et al 2002 However watercourses did not always contain free water during drier periods of the year

Fall Winter Habitats Reese et al 1999 calculated mean home range size of 11 52 ha for 1994/1995 and 15 83 ha in 1995/1996 during fall and winter Birds moved shorter distances between locations in 1994/1995 405 than in 1995/1996 619 During the fall and winter of 1994/1995 mountain quail in the Little Salmon River study area were most

located in conifer/shrub and shrub frequently 37% grass/spattered 15% cover types Reese et al 1999 In 1995/1996 quail were located in grass/scattered shrub 40% and conifer/shrub

33% cover types Reese et al 1999 The remainder of locations were divided among

residential riparian/tree/shrub riparian/shrub garden and mountain/shrub cover types while road and grass cover types were infrequently used agriculture cover type was least used and rocky outcrop cover type was not used at all Reese et al 1999

In an analysis of 39 covey sites and 38 independent sites Reese et al 199913 found that covey sites were at lower elevations had taller shrubs more visual obstruction less snow Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 22

Table Nest site habitat characteristics measured in three Oregon study areas Jackie et al

2002 Pope 2002

HCNRA John Da Coastal Mts.3 n34 10 n23 Nest Site Characteristic Mean SE Mean SE Mean SRI

Distance to road 716 153.40 906 355 78 22.15

Distance to water 124 28.43 269 75 286 43.9

Canopy closure 0.48 0.04 42 0.07 0.52 0.06

Aspect degrees 151 19.28 196 19.91

Slope degrees 312.61 26 2.2 26 2.62

Elevation 1086 66 1279 91 799 66

Proportion ground shrubs 0.210.03 0.07 0.03 0.22 0.03

Proportion grass 0.19 0.021 0.15 0.02 0.09 0.02

Proportion down wood 0.08 0.01 0.11 0.03 0.19 0.03

Proportion lifter 0.25 0.03 0.16 0.03 0.41 0.05

Height perimeter veg cm 108 10.30 70 14 136 13.3

Proportion of shrubs 0.29 0.03 0.14 0.05 0.28 0.03

Shortest shrub cm 36 4.34 3910.4 23 9.8

Tallest shrub cm 11910.79 5712 140 15.76

Not measured in this study

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area northeastern Oregon Pope 2002

2John Day River Basin north-central Oregon Jackie et al 2002

3Cascade and Coast Range mountains southwestern Oregon Pope 2002 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 23

depth greater vegetative canopy cover smaller trees and were closer to water compared to

independent sites while percent slope percent canopy closure and tree dbh did not differ

between covey and independent sites Covey sites had mean aspect of 74 were found on

east-facing slopes and had higher percent canopy cover while independent sites had mean

aspect of were found on north-facing slopes and had lower percent canopy cover Reese et at

1999 They also reported that 34% n35 of nocturnal locations were in conifer/shrub in

1994/1995 while 50% occurred in grass/scattered shrub in 1995/1996 Quail were not found

roosting at night in riparian/shrub agricultural road or rocky outcrop cover types during the fall and winter Reese et al 1999

Nevada Habitat

We are not aware of any current research on habitat utilization by mountain quail in

Nevada habitats

Eastern Oregon Habitat

Home Range Size Pope 2002 monitored 52 radio-marked mountain quail and reported

mean home range size of 141 31 ha range 911 in the Cascade Mountain Range and

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area HCNRA Males and females had similar home range

sizes but home ranges in HCNRA 9730 ha range 6911 n3 were smaller than those in

the Cascades 75 257 ha range 8720 n12 Over 73% of 1259 mountain quail

observations were recorded in the following plant associations black cottonwood Populus trichocarpa/snowberry Symphoricarpos albus 20% Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii/mallow ninebark Physocarpus malvaceus 12% talus garland 12% ponderosa Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 24

pine Pinusponderosa/snowberry 9% red alder Alnus rubra/dogwood Cornus stolonjfera

8% smooth sumac Rhus glabra/bluebunch wheatgrass Agropyron spicatum 7% and dogwood 5% When compared to random sites black cottonwoodlsnowberry talus garland

ponderosa pine/snowbeny red alder/dogwood and smooth sumac/bluebunch wheatgrass were

used more than expected bluebunch wheatgrass and Douglas-fir/mallow ninebark were used

less than expected Pope 2002

Nesting Habitat Pope 2002 measured habitat characteristics at 34 nest sites and

random plots within the HCNRA in southeast Oregon from 1997 2000 Table Thirteen

8% nests were located in mallow ninebark/snowberry or ponderosa pine/snowbeny habitat types and 2162% nests were located in 10 remaining habitat types Jackie et al 2002 analyzed 10 nests found in Murderers Creek Coordinated Resource Area MCCRA north-

central Oregon from 2001-2002 Table Eight nests were associated with western juniper

Juniperus occidentalis ponderosa pine or Douglas-fir dominated habitats and nests we in

mountain big sagebrush Artemisia tridentate vaseyana/Idaho fescue Festuca idahoensis Five nest sites n1 were on southwest facing slopes on northeast on northwest and on

southeast aspects and 70% of nests were positioned on the top third of the canyon ridge Nests were usually concealed in clumps of grass rocks 6r down wood Jackie et al 2002

Eastern Washington Habitat

We are not aware of any current research on habitat utilization by mountain quail in eastern Washington habitats Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 25

Other Habitats

Open habitats such as annual grasslands lava reefs and talus slopes are used infrequently

by this species Gutiérrez 1977 1980 Brennan et al 1987 Gutiérrez 197741 stated that

mountain quail have strong behavioral avoidance of open ground such as annual grassland

and will avoid crossing such cover types Jutiérrez 1980 reported no mountain quail associated with open grassland communities in the classification of over 500 sightings Reese et

al 1999 noted that road and grass cover types were infrequently used agriculture cover type

was least used and rocky outcrop cover type was not used at all

Ecological Requirements

mountain Foods Pope 2002 analyzed 90 quail crops collected during fall 1994 1996

and winter 1998 1999 in southwestern Oregon see Appendix Mountain quail consumed

plants from 61 plant taxa but only 13 genera composed the majority of their diet Legumes were

the primary food source with Lotus spp found in 58% of crops 47% dry weight in fall and

hairy vetch Vicia hirsuta found in 50% of crops 38% dry weight in winter Fall crops

coptained more berries while winter crops contained more grasses and green foliage Mountain

quail in southwestern Oregon are opportunistic foragers that seasonally shift diets to take

advantage of prevailing food abundances Pope 2002125

Aspect Slope Elevation During spring and summer in the Little Salmon River study area Idaho Herman et al 2002 found mountain quail at mean elevations of 991 1093 1120

and 1101 meters during 1992 through 1995 respectively During fall and winter months in the

same study area Reese et al 1999 observed mean elevation of 885 11 for 1994/1995 and

965 17 for 1995/1996 Nocturnal locations during falllwinter produced mean elevation of Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 26

869 24 and 890 76 mm 1994/1995 and 1995/1996 respectively Covey sites had mean

of fall/winter of 1994/1995 and aspect of 740 and mean percent slope 486% during

1995/1996 Reese et al 1999 Pope 2002 reported mean elevation of 971 51 n57 for

mountain quail nests in the Cascade Mountains and Hells Canyon Oregon Jackle et al 2002

release sites to reported mean distance from breeding ranges of 5753 1194 range 194

14626 for all birds n17 mean distance was 6285 range 194 13936 for females and

5091 range 2004 4626 for males Eight of 17 birds moved up in elevation mean increase of 232 range 14602 moved down in elevation mean decrease in elevation of 176

range 31 343 and remained at the same elevation

Climate Weather Reese et al 1999 observed less precipitation during falllwinter

1994/1995 than 1995/1996 but similar mean monthly minimum temperatures during both time

periods Mean snow depth did not differ between years 1.4 0.2 cm in 1994/1 995 1.3 0.3 cm

in 1995/1996 and ranged from 14 cm and 15 cm in 1994/1 995 and 1995/1996

respectively However timing of snowfall did differ with the greatest snow depth at mountain

quail locations in December of 1994/1 995 3.9 cm and in January of 1995/1996 2.7 cm Reese

et al 1999 At all snow depths the majority of mountain quail locations 54% 100%

occurred in conifer/shrub or grass/scattered shrub cover types Reese et al 1999 Table

Reproduction

Reproductive Ecology Success

Unique among all bird species the female mountain quail can produce multiple clutches

simultaneously producing one clutch of eggs for the male to incubate and one for the female to Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 27

Table Proportion of locations of mountain quail in cover types under different snow

depths during fall and winter 1994/1995 and 1995/1996 Little Salmon River study area Idaho

Reese et al 1999

Locations for Fall and Winter of 1994/1 995 1995/1996

Snow Depth cm

CoverType 1.15.0 5.19.9 10

Conifer/Shrub 3639 23 19 54 67 20

Grass/Scattered Shrub 18 37 31 44 67 80

Riparian/Tree/Shrub 16 23 19

Riparian/Shrub 13 33

MountainlShrub

Residential Garden 12 15 33

Road 14 06 150 00

Agriculture 00

Grass 34 00 00 00

Rock Outcrop 00 .00 00 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 28

incubate Pope and Crawford 2001 Pope 2002 Heekin pers commun. Unlike other

North American quail male mountain quail participate fully in incubation and brood rearing

both male and female mountain quail can exhibit nest building behavior develop brood patch incubate eggs and tend young broods without assistance from their mate Delehanty 1997

Iiutiérrez and Delehanty 1999 Pope and Crawford 2001 Pope 2002 Heekin pers comm.

Like other quail species mountain quail generally breed at year of age Gutiérrez and

Delehanty 1999

Pope and Crawford 2001 examined reproductive behavior and biparental care of

mountain quail in western and eastern Oregon This study showed that mountain quail are

socially monogamous females can produce two clutches of eggs simultaneously and males incubate and brood the young independent of females Of 57 nests located in eastern and western

Oregon males incubated 45% females incubated 53% and 2% were incubated by birds of

unknown sex Pope and Crawford 2001 If nest was depredated or destroyed the bird would

remain near its partiner but did not assist with incubation Both parents would assist with brood

rearing once the eggs hatched Pope and Crawford 2001 Pope 2002

Diet Precipitation Delehanty 1997 examined the affects of diet and spring

precipitation on fecundity of captive and wild mouætin quail respectively He supplemented the

diet of captive mountain quail with dietary xanthophylls yellow carotenoid pigment found in

green plant tissue Results showed that female reproductive tracts enlarged more rapidly and

females laid significantly more eggs at higher rate than untreated females He also observed

that captive females consumed more green vegetation than did captive males even when

provided with adequate supplemented feed Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 29

Delehanty 1997 also quantified spring precipitation and autumn juvenile/adult ratios in

wild mountain quail in the Mojave Desert California During the year study years were

classified as moist precipitation for January March greater than the 47-year average and

for the years were dry precipitation January March less than the 47-year average during

spring breeding season For the moist years 93.1 92.0 and very large percentage of

autumn mountain quail were juveniles For the two dry years less than 1% of autumn quail were

juveniles In summary this work suggests that increased dietary xanthophylls resulting from

spring precipitation may influence reproductive fluctuations in mountain quail

Nesting Incubation Jackie et al 2002 reported mean nest bowl width 16 0.6 cm

13 and nest for 10 nests in north-central range 20 mean depth 60.5 cm range 36

Oregon Of these 10 nests 50% were incubated by males 40% by females and 10% by quail of unknown sex 90% of clutches were incubated by juveniles Jackie et ai 2002 In the Little

Salmon River study 42 nests were located in 1993 1995 Heekin pers commun. Of those 42 nests 43% 18 were incubated by males and 57% 24 were incubated by females

43% 18 were incubated by adults 50% 21 were incubated by juveniles and 3% were

incubated by birds of unknown age Heekin pers commun. Pope 2002 reported mean nest width of 16.20.4 cm mean nest depth of 6.3 0.9 cm for 57 nests in Oregon 67% of these nests were composed of conifer needles Male mountain quail incubated 45% of nests n57 and females incubated 53% Pope 2002

Early researchers reported an incubation period of 2325 days Edminster 1954 Bent

1963 Miller and Stebbins 1964 Masson and Mace 1970 However current research indicates

mean incubation period of 300.6 days range 27 36 days nl with incubation running

from approximately June 10 range May 28 June 24 to July 1.6 days range June 17 July Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 30

31 Pope and Crawford 2001 Pope 2002 used temperature-sensitive data loggers to

document incubation patterns for 22 mountain quail nests The mean number of recesses/day was 1.9 0.03 and mean total time away from nests was 164 5.5 mm/day 110 5.4 mm/day for morning recesses and 63 mm/day for afiernoonevening recesses Females and males

exhibited similar incubation patterns of absences/day from nests during early morning and

had evening Pope 2002 Northeastern Oregon birds greater daily frequency of recesses which

were evenly distributed across time periods while southwestern Oregon birds had lower daily

frequency of recesses that exhibited bimoihul distribution with recesses occurring in early

morning and early evening time periods Pope 2002 Length of recesses deceased as incubation

proceeded and incubation period did not differ for nests tended by males or females Pope and

Crawford 2001

Mountain quail have been reported to produce up to .1 eggs daily Johnsgard 1973

Therefore if female laid 26 eggs in two nests simultaneously and incubated 30 days egg laying and incubation combined would take 54 days Pope and Crawford 200 1869 Mountain

quail rarely renest if nest is lost and do not appear to produce consecutive broods e.g raise

brood then renest and raise second consecutive brood Edminster 1954 Leopold 1972 Pope and Crawford 2001 Pope pers commun.

Clutch Size Grinnell et al 1918 summarized 34 published observations on mountain

quail clutch size and calculated an average of 11 eggs/clutch In the Little Salmon River study area females produced an average of 24 eggs range 20 28 with mean clutch size of 12 eggs range 16 n55 Heekin pers commun. In Oregon habitats females produced an

avenge of 22 eggs range 19 26 with mean clutch size of 11.3 0.3 eggs range 15 this

mean clutch size did not differ for males and females adults and juveniles translocated and Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

native or quail in eastern and western Oregon Pope and Crawford 2001 Pope 2002 In north-

central Oregon habitats Jackie et al 2002 reported mean clutch size of 10.7 0.6 eggs range

14 n10 mean clutch size was 12 0.9 eggs range 10 14 for males and 10.2 0.5 eggs range 12 for females

Hatch Date Mean hatch date of successful nests n40 in the Little Salmon River study

area was approximately July range May 11 June 23 Heekin pers commun. Pope

hatch date of and Crawford 2001 report mean July 1.6 days range June 17 July 31

mean hatch date remained within one week from year to year Mean hatch dates differed for

males July and females July 11 but did not differ for adults and juveniles or eastern and

western Oregon birds Pope and Crawford 2001 JackIe et al 2002 reported mean hatch date

of June 22 range June 16 July 10 for all nests June 20 range June 16 June 24 n4

for nests incubated by males and June 25 range June 20 July n5 for nests incubated by

females

Nest Egg Success Studies of nest success produced estimates of 70% for 57 nests

Pope and Crawford 2001 Pope 2002 70% for 43 nests Heekin pers commun and

57% for 14 nests Miller 1950 Pope and Crawford 2001 reported an egg success of 59% for

645 eggs 37 of 432 eggs failed to hatch from successful nests while thc remainder were

destroyed by predators or abandoned Of 10 nests found by Jackie et al 2002 80%

successfully hatched eggs and 20% were completely depredated of the 79 eggs in non-

depredated nests 15 19% were not viable and did not hatch Other estimates of egg success

were 62% for 485 eggs Heekin pers commun and 95% for 82 eggs Miller 1950

Brood Size For successful nests mean brood size was 9.7 n39 and did not differ for nests incubated by males and females adults and juveniles or native birds in eastern and western Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 32

Oregon habitats Pope and Crawford 2001 However mean brood size differed for birds

translocated to Wallowa County 11.1 and native birds of Douglas County 9.2

and Crawford Jackie et brood Pope 2001 2002 reported mean size at hatching of 1.1

mean brood size was 9.5 1.9 chicks for males and eggs range 14 n8 range 14 7.3

0.7 chicks range for females In northeastern and southwestern Oregon Pope 2002

0.7 found mean brood size of 9.7 range 13 n22 at hatching for mountain quail

Population Parameters

Covey Size

Reese et al 1999 observed mean covey size of 6.2 0.3 in 1994/1995 and 6.5 0.5 in

observed 1995/1996 Nearly half of all coveys contained between quail 48% in

1994/1995 44% in 1995/1996 over third contained between quail 32% in 1994/1995

33% in 1995/1996 while coveys of 12 birds were observed 17% 1994/1 995 and 13%

1995/1996 of the time and large coveys of 13 or more birds were observed 4% 1994/1995 and 10% 1995/1996 of the time Small coveys birds composed more than 50% of

observations during February and March 1995 and January and February 1996 indicative of pair formation for breeding season Reese et al 1999 Pope per commun observed coveys

breaking up in mid- to early-March with mountain quail breeding pairs formed by early April in

Oregon habitats Average covey size in Oregon studies was 5-6 birds with coveys increasing in

size in the fall and smallest in size during March Pope pers commun. Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Survival

Brood Survival Herman et 2002 located 30 broods with 10 broods raised by

juvenile females by adult females by juvenile males and by adult males They estimated

mean brood survival of 0.43 at weeks from 1992 1995 with an average brood size of

Brood survival was not dependent upon sex or age class of the parent Herman et al 2002

Annual Survival Herman et al 2002 combined spring summer fall and winter

survival estimates in the ittle Salmon River study area to calculate an annual survival rate of

41% for 1994 1995 and 15% for 1995 1996 These estimates include data from Reese et al

1999 and should be considered approximations only due to small sample size

Spring and Summer Survival Herman et al 2002 reported spring and summer survival

rates for males females juveniles adults and all monitored mountain quail Tables and

Herman et al 2002 concluded that survival varied within and between years but appeared

unrelated to the sex or age of mountain quail

Fall and Winter Survival Reese et al 1999 reported fall and winter survival of

mountain quail as 53% during 1995/1995 and 25% during 1995/1996 however they recommend

that these estimates be considered approximations only due to small sample size

Translocated Quail Jackie et al 2002 reported that 17% of all radio-marked quail

radios n75 lived to the end of the monitoring period while 69% died and 12% disappeared or

failed For juvenile quail n54 22% lived 63% died and 15% disappeared and for adult quail

n21 5% lived 86% died and 10% disappeared For males n38 21% lived 58% died and

21% disappeared and for females n3 13% lived 77% died and 10% disappeared

Likelihood of survival for translocated mountain quail in north-central Oregon was greater for

males than for females Jackie et 200217 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 34

Table Spring and summer survival estimates for radio-marked mountain quail in the Little

Salmon River study area Idaho Herman et al 2002

Survival Estimate SE

Class Description 1992a 1993 1994 1995

All monitored quail 23 44 26732 781228 62 27 35

Adults 007 36208 56207 821713

Juveniles 23 1021 29923 861418 4624 20

Males 5035 15817 612215 56 37 15

Females 17 25 391215 781810 58 38 17

Adult Females 00 100

Juvenile Females 241519 291213 83 34 393011

Adult Males 15146 5025 69 27

Juvenile Males 191010 88 31 10 47 34

Poncho-mounted radios may have increased mortality in 1992

Estimated only until mid-May

Inadequate sample size Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 35

Table Monthly survival estimates during spring and summer for radio-marked mountain quail

in the Little Salmon River study area Idaho 1992 1995 Herman et al 2002

Survival Estimate SE

Month 1992 1993 1994 1995

April 71738 73830 100022 88 27

May 59 29 71925 96425 91624

June 73 11 17 79919 9072 95 21

July 82 1211 93714 100018 88 17

August 1000 841113 100019 100013 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 36

native and 75 Pope 2002 radio-marked 232 mountain quail 157 translocated during

1997 1999 in HCNRA and the Cascade Mountains of Oregon In this study 44% 102 of

and of radio-marked quail were males 51% 119 were females 5% 11 were unknown sex

During the 166-day monitoring interval 51% 119 quail died 23% 53 lived and 26% 60

radios that disappeared or failed For those died 46% 47 were males 59% 70 were females

and were of unknown sex Fifty percent 36 n72 of birds translocated to HCNRA from the

Cascades died 25% 18 lived and 25% 18 disappeared or radios failed Fifty-five percent 42

n77 of native FICNRA birds died 19% iS lived and 26% 20 disappeared or radios failed

An estimated survival rate for the 166-day interval was 0.42 0.04 for both areas combined 0.41

0.04 for HCNRA and 0.34 0.34 for the Cascades Quail in both study areas experienced

high mortality 50% in the 166-day interval but there was no significant difference in survival

for native or translocated quail fall or winter periods in HCNRA or different years of the study

However there was significant difference in survival for males and females and the risk of

mortality for males was 0.67 that of femalesPope 200285

Delehanty 1997 examined the effects of rearing environment captively-reared versus

wild-trapped on mortality Wild quail were captured in the Coso Range Mojave Desert

southern California and held with captively-rearedcaptive hereafter mountain quail at the

University of Nevada Reno campus until release Using ill radio-collared birds Delehanty

released an equal number and age of captive and wild-trapped wild hereafter birds in separate

translocations Translocated birds were released in Thomas Creek Canyon Washoe County

Nevada which contained suitable habitat and resident population of mountain quail

Translocation occurred in fall 1994 with 18 captive wild adults Translocation

occurred in winter 1995 with 36 juvenile wild juvenile captive adult wild adult Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

captive birds Translocation occurred in spring 1996 with 34 juvenile 17 captive 17 wild

quail Additionally 21 birds were trapped radio-collard and released at the Mojave Desert

study site Mortality was high for all translocated birds regardless of age or rearing experience

however mortality was lower for wild than for captive quail total of II of 38 wild and of

37 captive quail were alive after 50 days For translocations and all quail experienced 100%

mortality after 125 and 50 days respectively For translocation 367% of 12 wild and 18%

of 11 captive quail remained alive after 50 days birds were not monitored beyond 50 days from

release For fall and winter translocations quail experienced 100% mortality regardless of

rearing experience For the spring translocation wild birds experienced lower mortality than

captive birds Wild birds translocated during spring into novel environment experienced

similar mortality as birds captured and released into their rearing environment in the Mojave

Desert Delehanty 1997

Predation

In the Little Salmon River study area Reese et al 1999 attributed 38% n22 and 41%

n3 of mountain quail mortalities to predators during the fall-winter 199496 Table Of

the 71 carcasses that were found during spring and summer from 1992 1995 Herman et al

2002 attributed 38% to avian predators 30% to unknown causes 24% to mammals 7% to

closed traps and 1% to snakes Table Herman et 2002 combined data from their study

and the Reese et al 1999 study and concluded that predation accounted for 37U/ and 52% of

mortalities for 1994/1 995 and 199511996 respectively and avenged 46% over the year period Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 33

Table Predator type and percent of total mortalities of mountain quail in the Little Salmon

River study area Idaho Information for 1992 1995 was collected during spring and summer

while information for 1994/1995 and 1995/1996 was collected during fall and winter Reese et

al 1999 Herman et al 2002

of Total Mortalities

1992 1993 1994 1995 1994/19952 1995/19962

Predator Type n30 n23 n5 n13 n16 n22

Mammalian 17 22 40 38 43 14

Avian 33 48 20 39 38 41

Reptilian

ClosedTraps 22

Undetermined 47 40 23 19 45

Herman et al 2002

Reese et al 1999 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Age Sex Ratios

Fall age ratios were 4.5 juveniles/adult in 1994 and 4.9 juveni1es/tdult in 1995 in the

Little Salmon River study area Reese et al 1999 Jackie et al 2002 reported 71% of 93

translocated birds were juveniles and 29% were adults at time of release Pope and Crawford

2001 identified gender of 242 mountain quail captured in Douglas and Wallowa counties

Oregon from 19972000 55% were females and 45% were males Jackie et al 2002 identified gender in 69 mountain quail and reported that 38 were males 55% and 31 were females 45%

Models Techniques

Determining Age Sex

Adult mountain quail can be distinguished from birds of the year by examining the greater upper primary coverts that are solid olive/steel-grey in adults and buff-tipped in young of the year Leopold 1939 Gutiérrez and Delehanty 1999 Determining the sex of mountain quail has proven much more difficult because they are highly monomorphic Many authors have tested the measurement of various physical traits length of the wing tarsus claw head plum mandible tail primaries and body mass as method of indicating sex in mountain quail

Grinnell et al 1918 Dawson 1923 Johnsgard 1975 McLean 1930 Ormiston 1966

Schlotthauer 1967 Pine 1981 To test these methods Brennan and Block 1985 measured morphometric characteristics of 206 mountain quail study skins collected between Washington and Baja California Mexico Of the characteristics measured weight wing chord folded wing culmen and center claw were not significantly different between sexes Mean tarsus length and

mean plume length showed significant difference However mean tarsus lengths differed by only 0.7 mm and plume lengths exhibited large range of overlap making these measurements Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 40

inadequate to determine sex Delehanty 1997 conducted similar investigation on captive

and concluded that measurements of characteristics mountain quail n30 physical demonstrated an overlap in values making them unsuitable for the identification of sex in this species

Plumage has also been reported as useful characteristic for distinguishing sex in mountain quail Females reportedly have olive-brown extending lip the nape of the neck and

the and whereas males have solid slightly duller coloration on belly sides steel-gray napes and brighter coloration overall Grinnell et al 1918 Dawson 1923 McLean 1930 Schlotthauer

1967 Because feather color can differ with age nutrition molting condition and exposure to

sunlight differences in plumage color typically do not provide an accurate method to determine

sex The presence or absence of olive-brown plumage on the neck and breast did not consistently

indicate sex even for captive birds raised under identical conditions Delehanty et al 1995

Delehanty 1997

Of all the methods for identifying sex in mountain quail genetic testing of blood samples

al is the most accurate Longmire et 1993 developed genetic technique to distinguish sex

with microsatellite DNA probes using blood samples from monomorphic bird species This

technique was adapted for mountain quail and provides fast inexpensive and accurate method

to determine sex Researchers correctly determined the sex of 18 mountain quail 12 females

males based on the presence or absence of specific microsatellite DNA fragments Delehanty et

al 1995 Delehanty 1997

Habitat Relationships

Breeding Habitat In an analysis of breeding range selection Pope 2002 reported models in the 95% confidence set Elevation occurred in all models and appeared to be the most important characteristic with the greatest impact on model performance Pope 2002

Nesting Habitat Pope 2002 measured and analyzed 14 habitat characteristics for 34

nest sites and random plots in HCNRA The five variables that most accurately estimated mountain quail nesting habitat were proportion of canopy closure proportion of ground Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 41

and distance to water The model that shrubs GS proportion of litter GL slope DW was the best predictor of mountain quail nesting habitat was CtGSGLSDW and was times more likely than the next best model Pope 2002

Translocation Procedures

Mountain quail are readily trapped and are able to withstand repeated handling transport

holding in captivity and subsequent release into new environments Delehanty 1997 Pope

in of habitats and varied diet 2002 This species can exist variety consume Gutierrez and

Delehanty 1999 Translocated birds released into novel environments can experience similar survival rates to resident birds captured and released into their rearing environments if they are held over winter and released in the spring Delehanty 1997

Current Future Work

Idaho

Current Work During 1992 1996 research conducted along the Little Salmon River

Idaho provided information on movements reproduction habitat use survival and ecology of mountain quail in Idaho Reese et al 1999 Herman et al 2002 Heekin pers commun. total of 193 mountain quail were fitted with radio collars and monitored to document 1072 radio locations during the spring and summer periods from 1992 1996 Herman et al 2002 total of 113 quail were radio collared to document 348 radio locations during fall and winter periods

from 1994 1996 Reese et al 1999

During 2002 the IDFG and BLM jointly funded mountain quail calling survey of drainages near Mountain Home Idaho Kniesel 2002 Long Tom Crown Syrup Cottonwood

and Canyon creeks were surveyed during April May Mountain quail have been sighted Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 42

infrequently in this area since 1980 but no evidence of mountain quail was found during the surveys Kniesel 2002

Future Work The 1DFG will focus on distribution surveys habitat assessment and translocations beginning in 2003 Hemker pers commun.

Nevada

Current Work During July NDOW conducts an assessment of mountain quail

populations on the CLNAWS Mojave Desert California Following this assessment NDOW determines the number of quail to trap for translocation into Nevada Birds are captured in

September held over the winter and released the following spring in an effort to maximize survival going into the breeding season From 1986 through 2002 NDOW released 1293 mountain quail into Churchill Elko Lander Nye Pershing and Washoe counties Stiver pers conimun Table Release sites are areas that historically supported mountain quail currently contain mountain quail or contain suitable habitat Stiver pers commun.

Translocations into Thomas Creek Canyon Washoe County during 1994 1996 were coupled with research efforts to compare mortality of wild-trapped and captively-reared mountain quail

Delehanty 1997

Future Work NDOW plans to continue translocation efforts in cooperation with the

California Department of Fish and Game CLNAWS Quail Unlimited USFS and Idaho State

University Delehanty undated Sliver pers commun. Objectives of this study are as follows

Release mountain quail into the Bruneau River site in order to promote the re

establisment of mountain quail on public lands in northern Nevada

Monitor movement survivorship and reproduction of radio-marked mountain

quail

Evaluate the relative roles of transloeated male and female mountain quail in

establishing viable population Delehanty undated Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 43

NDOW will capture wild birds at CLNAWS hold birds over winter for spring release test blood samples to identify gender of captured birds and monitor radio-marked birds after release in

Nevada habitats Monitoring birds will provide information on habitat preference reproduction and program success Delehanty undated

Eastern Oregon

Current Work The Game Bird Research Program Oregon State University OSU has

been involved in mountain quail research sipce 1996 The main objective of this research was to compare the ecology of resident mountain quail populations in southwestern Oregon and Hells

Canyon in northeastern Oregon and translocated sample of mountain quail captured in southwestern Oregon and released in Hells Canyon in northeastem Oregon Primary objectives were to gain insight into habitat selection survival reproduction and movements In 2001 they implemented translocation program using Pope 2002 protocols in north-central Oregon near the John Day River JackIe et al 2002 Pope 2002

Results of this research helped develop Mountain Quail Restoration and Research Plan

from for Eastern Oregon Rickerson et al 2002 Phase one is to translocate mountain quail western Oregon into the MCCRA 10 km southeast of Dayville Oregon within the John Day

River Basin In the winter of 2001 116 birds 69 with radio collars 47 banded but not radio collared were released in MCCRA sites The winter of 2002 66 radio-collared birds were released in MCCRA sites and 27 radio-collared 18 banded were released near Prineville

Oregon Objectives of this study were to

Determine habitat use survival reproduction parameters and movements of

translocated quail

Determine if tranlocated radio-marked mountain quail can be used to locate

resident populations

Refine and evaluate protocols for future translocations and post-release

monitoring procedures Pope et al 2002 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 44

Preliminary data indicated that translocated quail released at the MCCRA in 2002 experienced greater modality 69% than translocated or native quail in Hells Canyon and the

Cascades translocated that did survive 50 55%Pope 2002 However quail successftully selected mates established nest sites and produced broods Jackie et al 2002 suggested that

dates snowfall occurring before and after release may have resulted in greater mortality This

current research will continue into 2003 with an additional objective of testing translocation

procedures such as holding birds over the winter for mid-April release

In 1994 and 1998 the OSU Game Bird Program conducted mountain quail surveys in eastern Oregon Jackie et al 2002 Observation reports see Appendix were distributed to state and federal biologists hunting groups and birding organizations and total of 225 observation forms were returned by 2001 Most observations 78% were recorded in counties

and Crook Grant Jefferson Klamath Wasco some observations were reported in Wallowa

6% Wheeler 6% and Malheur 4%counties and the remaining observations 6%occurred in Union Umatilla Morrow Baker Harney and Sherman counties Jackie et al 2002 In Grant and Crook counties most observations were reported in the Umatilla Malheur and Ochooco

National Forests In Crook Grant and Jefferson counties most locations were in the John Day

River and Crooked River drainages Jackie et al 2002

Future Work current research proposal developed by Rickerson et al 2002 will

focus on translocations as method of increasing mountain quail abundance and distribution in

eastern Oregon This effort is part of coordinated conservation strategy combining research with pro-active management activities to restore Mountain Quail to historical ranges and rehabilitated habitats in eastern Oregon Rickerson et al 200223 Researchers plan to capture 400 500 mountain quail in southwestern Oregon each winter beginning in 2002 and ending in 2005 Approximately 50% of quail will be radio collared and monitored each year from March to August Primary goals and objectives of this proposal are to

Increase distributions and abundance of mountain quail in eastern Oregon through

translocations Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 45

Determine habitat use survival reproduction and movements of translocated

mountain quail

Use translocated quail to locate resident populations

Develop protocols for translocations and post-release monitoring

Establish self-sustaining populations of mountain quail in former ranges

Rickerson et al 2002

Researchers propose to release minimum of 50 birds at each release site for consecutive years extract blood for sex identification and blood disease analysis and compare winter and summer releases for differences in survival Rickerson et al 2002

Eastern Washington

Current Work We are not aware of any current research being conducted in Washington

Future Work WDFW has secured federal funding and is in the preliminary stages of developing mountain quail reintroduction program Cope pers commun. Habitat analysis and the identification of suitable habitat would be followed by reintroduction of mountain quail

into historical range in southeastern Washington The agency seeks to cooperate with ODFW and the IDFG in these future efforts Cope pers commun.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Game Management Plan WDFW

2002 includes the following objectives for mountain quail

Detennine potential mountain quail habitat in southeastern Washington by 2008

Develop map showing potential mountain quail habitat in eastern Washington

Evaluate potential habitat areas in southeastern Washington to determine the most

appropriate areas for re-introduction efforts Conduct an evaluation of eastern

Washington mountain quail habitat conditions and suitability based on results

from monitoring released quail WDFW 200299-100

Re-establish mountain quail populations in historical range in eastern

Washington Secure finding for reintroduction project Enter into cooperative Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 46

project with Oregon and Idaho designed to address mountain quail re-introduction

in southeastern Washington northern Oregon and western Idaho Support and/or

conduct trapping of wild mountain quail in Oregon and release into identified

areas of southeastern Washington Implement post-release monitoring program

as part of re-introduction efforts Evaluate the need to close California quail

hunting seasons in areas targeted for reintroduction WDFW 2002100 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 47

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Jennifer Brookshier WDFW Shelley Cooke Idaho Conservation

Data Center and Eric Miskow Nevada Natural Heritage Program for timely assistance with

current sighting locations of mountain quail Many thanks to Michael Pope Trish Heekin and

Rex Sallabanks for reviewing previous draftrof this document and providing constructive

criticism Eric Rickerson ODFW and San Stiver NDOW provided helpfid advice and insight

for Oregon and Nevada populations of mountain quail Funding for this project was provided by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Mnijntain Quail Distribution and Conservation 48

Personal Communications Contacts

Jennifer Brookshier Wildlife Biologist Patricia Heekin

Wildlife Resource Data System Section P.O Box 8926 Washington Department of Fish and Moscow ID 83843 Wildlife Phone 208 882-4960 ext 120

600 Capitol Way Olympia WA 98501-109 Phone 360 902-2484 Tom Hernker Wildlife Program Coordinator Idaho Department of Fish and Game 600 South Walnut POB 25

Shelley Cooke Information Manager Boise ID 83707 Idaho Conservation Data Center Phone 208 334-2920 Idaho Department of Fish and Game 600 Walnut P.O Box 25 Boise ID 83707 Michael Pope 208 334-3402 Faculty Research Associate Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Oregon State University Mick Cope Upland Game Section Manager 104 Nash Hall

Washington Department of Fish and Corvallis OR 97331 Wildlife Phone 541 737-4908

Natural Resources Building

1111 Washington Street SE

Olympia WA 98501 San Stiver Wildlife Biologist 360 902-2691 Nevada Division of Wildlife

1100 Valley Road RenoNV 89512 Phone 775688-1500 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 49

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Johnsgard 1973 Grouse and quails of North America Univ Nebraska Press Lincoln

S53 pp

1975 North American birds of and shoreline Univ Nebraska _____ game upland Press lincoln lS3pp

Kavanaugh and Fite 2000 petition for rules to list mountain quail Oreortyxpictus

in the northern and western Great Basin and the Interior Columbia Basin and lands

westward to the Cascade Crest as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act Olympia Wash SSpp

Kniesel 2002 Sage grouse lek aerial surveys and mountain quail mating call surveys in

Elmore County Idaho April May 2002 Unpubl Rep Idaho Dept Fish and Game Boise 8pp

Leopold 1939 Age determination in quail J.Wildl Manage 3261-265

_____ 1972 Wildlife of Mexico the game birds and mammals Univ California Press Berkeley S68pp

Longmire Maitbie Paveilca Smith Witte Ryder

Ellsworth and Baker 1993 Gender identification in birds using microsatellite

DNA fingerprint analysis Auk 110378-381

Masson and Mace 1970 Upland game birds Oregon State Game Comm Portland Bull No l4pp

McLean 1930 The quail of California California Div Fish Game Game Bull 21- 47 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 52

Merrill J.C 1898 Notes on the birds of Fort Sherman Idaho Auk 1514-22

Miller A- H- and Stebbins 1964 The lives of desert animals in Joshua Tree National Monument Univ California Press Berkeley lS2pp

Miller 1950 The life history and management of mountain quail in California Final Prog Rep Proj W-19-R California Dept Fish Game Sacramento 38pp

Morache Chaffm Naderman and Melquist 1985 Nongame management plan

1986 to 1990 species management plan Idaho Dept Fish Game Boise 26pp

Moseley and Groves 1990 Rare threatened and endangered plants and animals of

Idaho Nongame and Endagered Wjjcll Prog Id Dept Fish and Game Boise 33pp

rock site in desert Murphey 1991 The Jarbidge art pictographs the high country of southwestern Idaho Id Archaeol 142 17-32

Murray 1938 Upland game birds in Idaho and their future Univ Idaho Bull 3355-60

Nevada Division of Wildlife 2002 2002 Nevada Hunt Book Reno

Oregon Department of Fish Wildlife 2002 2002 2003 Oregon Game Bird Regulations Portland S2pp

Ormiston 1966 The food habits habitat and movements of mountain quail in Idaho Thesis Univ Idaho Moscow 39pp

Pine 1981 Identifying sex of mountain quail by length of crest plume Wildi Manage 451056-1057

Phillips J.C 1928 Wild birds introduced or transplanted in North America U.S Dept of Agri Tech Bull 61

Pope 2002 The ecology of mountain quail in Oregon Ph Thesis Oregon State Univ Corvallis l5Spp

Pope and Crawford 2001 Male incubation and biparental care in mountain quail Condor 103865-870

Reese Nelle and Zager 1999 Movements habitat use and survival of mountain

quail Oreortyx pictus during fall and winter in west-central Idaho Unpub Rep Idaho Dept of Fish Game Lewiston and Bureau of Land Mgmt Boise S6pp Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 53

Rickerson Pope and Zalunardo 2002 Mountain quail translocations in Eastern Oregon Unpubi Res Proposal Oregon Dept of Fish and Wild Portland 8pp

Robertson 1989 Statewide survey of mountain quail 1989 report on the status of

mountain quail in Idaho Unpubl Rep Prepared for Idaho Dept Fish Game 127pp

Rudolph ed 1995 The Hetrick site 11000 years of prehistory in the Weiser River Valley Idaho Idaho Transport Dept Boise

Schlotthauer 1967 All about quail and grouse Game Bird Breeders Conserv and Aviculturalistis Gaz 1639-1

Taylor 1923 Upland game birds in the state of Washington with discussion of some

general principles of game importation Murrelet 43-15

Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 1991 Federal Register VIII 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants animal candidate review

for listing as endangered or threatened species proposed rule 56225

Part 17 _____ 1994 Federal Register IV 50 CFR Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants animal candidate review for listing as endangered or threatened species proposed rule 59219

Vogel and Reese 1995 Habitat conservation assessment for mountain quail Oreortyxpictus Unpubl Rep Idaho Dept Fish and Game Boise 6lpp

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 2002 Draft environmental impact statement for

the game management plan July 2003 June 2009 Washington Dept of Fish Wildl Olympia l2Opp

_____ 2002 Migratory waterfowl and upland game seasons 2002-2003 Pamphlet ed Olympia

Washington Department of Wildlife 1993 Distribution status of the mountain quail Oreortyx pictus in Washington Unpubl Rep Washington Dept of Wild Olympia ZZpp

Yocom and Harris 1953 Food habits of mountain quail Qreortyxpicta in eastern Washington Wild Manage 17204-207 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 54

Appendix Mountain Quail Food Plants

Species Name Common Name References

Agropyron spicatum bluebunch wheatgrass Yocum Harris 1953 ilium spp onion Ormiston 1966 Alnus spp alder Yocum Han-is 1953

Alyssum alyssoides yellow alyssum Ormiston 1966 Amaranthus spp pigweed Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966

Amelanchier alntfolia serviceberry Ormiston 1966 Amsinckia retrorsa fiddleneck Ormiston 1966

Arbutus spp madrone Gutiérrez 1980 Arctostaphylos spp manzanita Grenfell et al 1980 Gutidrrez 1980 Pope 2002

Artemisia trident ata big sagebrush Grenfell eta 1980 Astragalus spp locoweed Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et al 1980

1-Teekin pers commun Avena sativa oats Grenfell et 1980

Brassica spp mustard Grenfell et al 1980 Brodiaea spp brodiaea Grenfell et al 1980 Bromus spp brome Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et al 1980 Pope 2002

Capsella bursa-pastoris shepherds purse Ormiston 1966

Carex spp sedge Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et al 1980

Heekin pers commun Caucalis microcarpa hedge-parsley Grenfell et al 1980 Pope 2002 Ceanothus spp ceanothus Grenfell et 1980 Pope 2002

Ceanothus integerrimus deer brush Grenfelletal 1980 Celtis spp hackbeny Yocum Harris 1953 Cerastium spp chickweed Ormiston 1966 Cercis occidentalis red-bud Grenfell eta 1980

Chenopodium album lambs quarter Ormiston 1966 Chiopsis linearis desert willow Grenfell eta 1980 Cirsium spp thistle Ormiston 1966 Heekin

pers cornmun Claytonia spp Heekin pers commun Coleogyne ramosissima blackbrush Grenfel et al 1980

Collinsia parvjflora blue-eyed Mary Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et 1980

Heekin pers commun Convolvulus spp bindweed Grenfell et al 1980 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 55

Appendix Mountain Quail Food Plants Continued

Species Name Common Name References

Crataegus spp black hawthorn Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966 Pope 2002 Heekin pers commun

Cynosurus echinatus dogtails grass Pope 2002

Cytisus scoparius Scots-broom Pope 2002

Dalea aborescens Mohave indigo bush Grenfell et 1980

Dipsacus sylvestris teasel Ormiston 1966

Draba verna spring whitlow grass Ormiston 1966

Emmenanthependuljflora whispering bells Grenfell et al 1980 Ephedra spp Mexican tea Grenfell et 1980 Eriogonum spp buckwheat Onniston 1966 Grenfell et al 1980 Erodium spp cranes bill Grenfell et al 1980 Gutiérrez 1980 Erodium circutarium storks bill Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966

Grenfell et 1980

Euphorbia spp spurge Omiiston 1966 Festuca spp fescue Grenfell et al 1980 Pope 2002 Galium spp bedstraw Grenfell et 1980 Garrya spp silk tassel Grenfell et 1980 Pope 2002 Geranium bicknellii Bicknells geranium Ormiston 1966

Gilia spp gilia Grenfell et 1980 Helianthella unflora sunflower P.E Heekin pers commun Helianthus annuus common sunflower Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966

Heteromeles arbutjfolia toyon Grenfell et 1980

Holosteum umbellatum jagged chickweed Onniston 1966

Hordeum spp barley Onniston 1966 Grenfel et al 1980 Juncus spp P.E Heekin pen commun Lathynis spp peavine Pope 2002 Lactuca spp lettuce Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966 Lemna minor duckweed Ormiston 1966

Linanthus spp linanthus Grenfell et al 1980

Lithophragma spp prairiestar Grenfel et al 1980 Gutiérrez 1980

Lithophragma bulbfera bulbiferous prairiestar Ormiston 1966 Lithosperma ruderale P.E Heekin pen commun

Lolium spp ryegrass Grenfel et 1980

Lomatium spp lomatium Onniston 1966 Grenfel et al 1980 Lotus spp lotus Grenfe et at 1980 Pope 2002

Lupinus spp lupine Ormiston 1966 Grenfe et 1980 Gutiérrez 1980 Pope 2002 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 56

Appendix Mountain Quail Food Plants Continued

Species Name Conimon Name References

Lycium spp desert thorn Grenfell et at 1980 Madia spp tarweed Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et al 1980 Pope 2002

Ma/us spp apple Heekin pers commun

Medicago /upu/ina black medic Yocum Harris 1953 Pope 2002 Meli/otus spp sweet clover Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966 Microsteris grad/is microsteris Ormiston 1966 Montia spp montia Gutiérrez 1980 Montia arenicola sand montia Ormiston 1966

Montia perfo/iata miners lettuce Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et al 1980

Nemophi/a menziesii baby blue-eyes Grenfell et at 1980

Nepeta cataria catnip Ormiston 1966 Panicum spp witchgrass Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et al 1980

Jarietaria pensylvania pellitory Orniiston 1966 Penstemon spp Heekin pers conimun Phace/ia spp phacelia Grenfell et at 1980 Ph/ox spp phlox Grenfell et al 1980

Pinus spp pine Belding 1892 Edminster 1954 Miller Stebbins 1964 Ormiston 1966

Grenfell et al 1980

Heekin pers commun

P/ectritus spp plectritis Grenfell et 1980

Poa spp bluegrass Ormiston 1966 Po/ygonum spp knotweed Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et at 1980 Heekin perz commun

Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas-fir Grenfell et al 1980 Heekin

pers commun Quercus spp oak Belding 1892 Edminster 1954 Miller Stebbins 1964 Ormiston 1966

Grenfell et al 1980 Gutiérrez 1980 Rhus diversiloba poison oak Gutiérrez 1980 Rhus glabra smooth sumac Yocum Harris 1953

Rhus /aurina laurel sumac Grenfell et at 1980

Rhus radicans poison ivy Yocum Harris 1953

Heekin pers commun Rhus tri/obata squaw bush Grenfelt et 1980 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 57

Appendix Mountain Quail Food Plants Continued

Species Name Conmion Name References

Ribes spp currant Ormiston 1966 Gutiénez 1980

Heekin pers commun Robiniapseudo-acacia black locust Yocum Harris l953Grenfell et 1980

Heckin pers commun Rosa spp wild rose Heekin pers commun Rubus spp raspberry Grenfell et 1980 Pope 2002 Rumex spp dock Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966 Grenfell eta 1980

Salix spp willow Grenfell et al 1980 Heekin

pers commun

Salvia spp sage Grenfell et al 1980

Sambucus spp elderberry Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et al 1980

Heekin pers commun Sanicula spp sanicle Grenfell et 1980 Gutiérrez 1980 Scieranthus annuus scleranthus Ormiston 1966

Solanum spp nightshade Yocum Harris 1953 Onniston 1966 Stellaria spp chickweed Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et al 1980 Gutiérrez 1980

Heekin pers commun

Stipa spp needlegrass Grenfell et 1980 Symphoricarpos spp snowberry Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et 1980 Pope 2002 Toxicodendron radicans poison oak Grenfell et 1980 TrfoIium spp sweet clover Yocum Harris 1953 Grenfell eta 1980

Gutiérrez 1980 Pope 2002 Triticum spp wheat Yocum Harris 1953 Pope 2002 Vicia spp vetch Yocum Harris 1953 Ormiston 1966 Grenfell et al 1980 Pope 2002

Viola spp violet Grenfell et al 1980

Vitis spp wild grape Grenfell et 1980

Yucca whipplei quixote Grenfell et al 1980

Nomenclature reflects species names listed by original researchers in their publications Mntrntain Quail Distribution and Conservation

Appendix Mountain Quail Observation Reports

Idaho Conservation Data Center observation report form page of

OBSERVATION REPORT MOUNTAIN QUAIL

Date of Report ______

Report taken by ______

Observers

Address

Phone

Dates of observation ______Time ______

Description of location be specific use place names that can be located on topo maps

County ______Elevation ______

Map name type scale e.g Pollock Quad USGS topo 7.5 mm If possible attach copy with sighting location marked

Township ______Range ______

______1/4 of ______1/4 of Section

UTM Coordinates Easting______Northing______

Land ownership/manager e.g BLM USFS Boise NF______

Description of habitat e.g mixed conifer conifer/shrub mountain shrub riparian shrub residential near road etc

kind of Description of land use practices eg agriculture what type grazing what livestock lodging what kind of harvest

over Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 59

Appendix Mountain Quail Observation Reports Continued

Idaho Conservation Data Center observation report form page of

Observation Report Mountain Quail continued

Type of observation sighting tracks droppings nest other

Description of sighting number seen or heard number of adults number of

late or at time of juveniles if spring aarly summer activity sighting etc

Has observer seen mountain quail before

Level of confidence of sighting

Sighting of interest to agencies such as BLM Nez Perce Tribe Potlatch Corporation Idaho Fish and Game Forest Service etc

Comments

Date forwarded to Irish Heekin report ______

Fish Wildlife Resources University of Idaho Moscow ID 83844-1136 208-885-6434 208-883-8386 Hi

Date forwarded to Conservation Data Center report ______

Attn Pam Peterson Idaho Department of Fish Game Box 25 Boise ID 83707 208-334-3402

Date report forwarded to other interested agencies companies

Agency Date ______

Agency Date ______

Date Agency ______

Agency Date ______

Date Agency ______

Agency Date ______

Agency Date ______

c\wpdocs\mqfoirns\obsrpt.wp4 01-29-97 Mountain Quail Distribution and Conservation 60

Appendix Mountain Quail Observation Reports Continued

Oregon State University Gamebird Research Program observation report form page of

Mountain Quail Observation Report

Date of Report______Date of Observation______

Observers

Address

Phone______AfflliationBLM USFS ODFW Private______

County of Observation______

Nearest Landmark stream road town name______

Township Range and Section if known______

Description of Habitat e.g mixed conifer conifer/shrub riparian residential etc

Number of Birds in Coveys______

Comments

Please forward report to Michael Pope Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Nash 104

Oregon State University Corvallis OR 9733 1-3803 541 737-4908 Email popemãonid.orst.edu