Our chapter has provided hundreds of man hours towards improving our local quail habitat in the last year. We have restored water guzzlers, built cattle control fences, planted trees, removed non-indigenous plants, provided quail count data, built erosion controls, and constructed windmills.

Pictured to the left is an example of a small guzzler in the Fred Canyon Area. Dirt and plant material were cleared off the water collection apron, cracks were repaired and debris was cleaned out of the underground water cistern.

New Guzzler Installation: WHAT IS A GUZZLER?

Our chapter has completed the design, planning, and construction of a new wildlife watering guzzler. The project coordinator was Eagle Scout, Brandon Preddy. He was provided financial assistance, manpower, and technical expertise by quail unlimited as needed. The site location was approved by all affected government agencies. This was SDQU's first new guzzler installed on public land and our biggest project to date and the birds love it.

Hollenbeck Canyon:

Work at this Department of Fish and Game site in Rancho Jamul continues. Work has included drinker installation, crop planting and irrigation, fence removal, non-indigenous plant removal, dove roosting and nesting site construction, native Oak tree planting, and debris removal. Projects will be continuing soon.

More information and directions

Call Routes and Brood Counts:

Our chapter’s members have gathered a lot of information about our local quail species over the years.  The information gathered is used by the California Department of Fish and Game in their scientific studies regarding different quail species populations and the forecasting each quail’s species yearly population.  
One of the methods to gather the information that is used by our members is the “Call Route”.  The DFG establishes a specific “Call Route” (generally in the rural back hills of San Diego County) that the member drives over and counts the number of quail calls heard.  No, it not that easy.

1. The route  generally is off the beaten path and a 4x4 vehicle may be needed to drive it
2. The route is always started at the same “start” location and ended at the same “end” location  
3.  The route is ten (10) miles in length
4. The route is generally traveled at the same time of the day at similar speeds
5. The route is generally traveled at the same times of each year
6. While traveling the route the member stops their vehicle (with engine off) every half (1/2) mile for exactly three (3) minutes
7. All  audible quail calls heard in that three (3) minutes are differentiated by species, counted and recorded
8. Usually a specific call route is assigned to one person to help prevent any variations in data collection that might affect population forecasting

So, I hope one can see that not only is good hearing and a good truck that is needed but perseverance, tenacity and dedication of one’s time for this project.

Bird Banding:

Members of SDQU have assisted the California Department of Fish and Game in their dove banding program.  The information gathered has been helpful to the department’s research in regards to population estimates and migratory patterns.   

Other Guzzler Repair Continues:

Here is a view of another guzzler near Table Mountain with a now improved apron.

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