08/13/2023
This picture shows perfectly why we ask you to stay off your mowers this time of year as much as possible. One of our biologists found this nest in a field border between an agricultural field and a road. While it is unfortunate that this nest was mowed over, it shows that field borders and other areas of habitat in an agriculture setting are important!
Bobwhite quail will nest from May through October. Avoid management activities, like mowing, during this time if possible. Sometimes conducting activities during this time is unavoidable or, in some circumstances, even beneficial in the long run. For example, prescribed burning during the summer may be necessary to improve the overall habitat health and suitability for quail. The saying “Sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make an omelette!” comes to mind. However, mowing very rarely has the benefits that prescribed fire has during these months.
Additionally, quail are an edge species and will often nest at the edge of the road - like the hen of this nest did. So if you must mow your roads during the nesting season, try to mow high and mow a path just wide enough to allow a vehicle through. Save some gas money and promote some habitat, it’s a win-win!
