Turkeys and Quail?

[Marc]

I have noticed that with valley quail, that when there are strong turkey populations, there are weak quail populations.

It has also been noted that with the rise in turkey populations on some hunting refuges, that the pheasant populations are plummeting in those same areas...

I have read several studies which infer that there is no correlation between turkey and bobwhite populations, and that the rise in turkey populations and the concurrent fall in quail  (and grouse) populations is due to different habitat niches.

But I have hunted some really good valley quail country with decent turkey populations, and see very few quail...  While not too far away, there are no turkey, but plenty of quail...  I cannot help but to infer some sort of correlation.

I have also watched covies of quail flushing with approaching turkeys.... 

Just wondering if anyone on this site might have some insight as to the dynamics of turkeys and other upland species of birds?

[Dtrkyman]

I would think subtle differences in the grass and habitat would be the reasons, I know many people talk about turkeys eating quail but have never seen any proof, heck if they ate baby quail there would no way be a single quail in Nebraska with all those turks!

Kind of like the folks talking about the turkey eating the seeds in a planted field, I have been in bean and corn fields for the last 20 plus years and have never seen evidence they ate seeds, those fields have a plant popped up in every spot!

[Ihuntoldschool]

I think turkeys will eat baby quail if they have the opportunity, but I don't think this is as big of a factor as I have heard some people suggest. I don't think they are eating enough to have a significant impact.

They may compete for the same habitat and the turkeys just drive the quail out of the area forcing them into areas where the habitat is less desirable.

I agree there is a connection.

[10gaugemag]

Decline in habitat and an increase in predators have killed the quail population here in Missouri. Hard for quail to make it when every farm has cats running everywhere and all of the night critters raid nests. Not much habitat left either, farmers seem to disc everything in as soon as a field is cut so there goes winter food and cover as well.

[Marc]

Just to clarify, I am talking about valley quail and Rio turkeys...

There is no lack of habitat for the quail (or turkeys), but areas I see turkeys always seem to have sub-par populations of quail...

I tend to lean towards Ihuntoldschool's line of thinking...  Although turkeys are capable of, and would opportunistically eat quail, I believe it is more that the drive them out into less desirable nesting habitat.

Last year, I was enjoying watching a pair of quail near me, and I gave out a few hen turkey yelps...  The pair immediately flushed.  I have seen covies flush as turkeys approach as well...  Very well could be that my sudden calling spooked the birds, and that the sheer loudness of approaching turkeys flushed the quail as well...

I have never witnessed overt or aggressive behavior of turkeys towards quail, but then again, I have never seen them in close proximity of each other.  I would be very curious as to anyone else's thoughts on this.  Guess I am just a curious fellow.

[nativeks]

Habitat has changed to favor turkeys. Need to look no further than my own land. I have 1 covey of quail as well as some nomadic turkeys on the land I bought last summer. Instead of 15 acres of warm season grasses I have 14 acres of brome and fescue and 1 acre of warm season grasses. Brome and fescue are horrible for quail, however it doesn't really slow the turkeys down. Went and bought round up today so I can treat the cool season grasses before the warm season grasses come out of dormancy. Also the low brushy hedgerows that led to large quail populations have matured, and the quail are easy pickings for the hawks, while the turkeys now have gained suitable roosting habitat where none previously existed.

Here is a brochure KDWPT put out
http://www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/content/download/23502/156131/file/Misconceptions_brochure.pdf