Northern Bobwhite Quail: Northern bobwhite quail numbers in Illinois have seen a dramatic decline of approximately 90-98% from the mid-1900s to the present, driven primarily by habitat loss due to intensive row cropping and changes in agricultural practices. For instance, the number of birds observed per survey route dropped from about 44 in 1970 to just over 4 in 2021, with the 2023-24 hunting season setting a record low for both hunters and harvested quail.
Northern Bobwhite Quail Hunting in Illinois:
Quail hunting in Illinois experienced significant popularity throughout the early and mid-1900s, with more than 150,000 active hunters during that period. Annual harvests were estimated to exceed two million quail from the 1950s through the early 1970s. However, primarily as a result of changes in land use and agricultural practices, this once-abundant game bird began a pronounced decline in the mid-1970s. Data on harvest numbers and hunter participation highlight this reduction: by 1990, the number of hunters had decreased to 84,000, and they harvested approximately 937,000 birds. By 2000, these figures had further declined to 40,500 hunters and a harvest of 271,500 birds.
The agricultural landscape of the 1950s was characterized by small, diverse farms featuring small grains (such as wheat and oats), livestock, hay fields, and numerous fencerows and hedgerows that separated fields and provided essential cover for quail. In contrast, contemporary farming predominantly involves corn and soybeans, which have largely replaced small grains, pastures, and hayfields.
Hedgerows and fencerows, once valuable habitats for game species, have been removed or treated with herbicides, resulting in reduced habitat and the loss of travel corridors between remaining habitat fragments. Additionally, there has been a substantial increase in both field size and equipment scale over the past five decades. More efficient machinery accelerates crop harvesting, and most fields are disked soon after harvest, eliminating crop stubble in early autumn. Consequently, winter cover is minimal, and spring planting occurs rapidly.
During summer months, roadside and non-crop areas are frequently mowed for aesthetic or recreational purposes, often coinciding with the primary nesting season (April–August) for northern bobwhite, ring-necked pheasant, and other grassland birds. The gradual transformation of the landscape and corresponding habitat loss over several decades have collectively contributed to the marked decline in quail and pheasant populations. Source IDNR
 |
