Utah Bird Records Committee

  
Rec. # 2022-18
Scaled Quail

Date:  30 Jul 2022
Type of material:  Question and answer document between Kris Purdy and Heather Talley
Source of Information: Kristin Purdy

Background: . Way back in mid-June when I was researching my second-round vote on the Scaled Quail record, I sent a request for information to Heather Talley, the DWR’s Upland Game Coordinator. I hoped to have the info before the Scaled Quail record closed out, but received it just today. This info would not have changed the status of the vote, but it seems pertinent to all record committee members’ understanding of the quail’s status in our state.

(Kris's questions are in boldface; Heather’s answers in regular type).
 

1.       Does the DWR maintain records of Scaled Quail sightings in Southeastern Utah as an indicator of how the 2013-2015 introductions took?

We don't have a database; we do conduct trained bird dog surveys annually to look for scaled quail in the Southeast Region.

2.       Where were those birds introduced?

Scaled quail entered the SER on their own during their population expansion in 2006; our translocations augment that population. Lime Ridge and Bluff Bench are where they were released in 2014 and 2015.

3.       Can you share the sightings data with me?

Here are sightings that I found in our files: 

November 9, 1997 = 3 in Blanding, San Juan Co.

March 21, 2017 = 6 in Bluff Bench

February 2018 = St. Christopher's Mission Church - 2 quail

2021 = covey of scaled quail in McCraken Mesa (from member of the public)

January 12, 2022 = Scaled quail tracks on Lime Ridge

4.       Do Southeast Region biologists conduct formal surveys to detect the species?

The SER biologists, upland coordinator, and project leader do conduct surveys annually to detect scaled quail.

5.       In what general areas do they perform the surveys?

McCraken Mesa

Comb Wash

Lime Ridge

Montezuma Canyon

Bluff Bench