Environmental Factors that Drive Bobwhite Quail Chick Survival

Each September, bobwhite hunters across the country wait impatiently for state wildlife agencies to publish their outlooks for the upcoming bobwhite quail season. A portion of these outlooks is determined by how many adult birds survived the previous winter. However, summertime bobwhite nest success and chick survival carry much more weight when deciding whether or not things look good for bobwhites. 

A vast majority of regional bobwhite populations turn over annually. In some cases, annual turnover reaches up to 80 percent of the birds. Bobwhites and, therefore, bobwhite hunters depend on annual reproduction success to maintain and expand populations and hunting opportunities. 

That said, what are the factors that drive bobwhite chick survival, and what can landowners do to give the little guys a boost in life?