Dear Jim and Other Friends,

I've been a bird watcher since the age of 12 (1961) and sadly, have seen 
many species decline in numbers over that period.  Bob Whites are a bird 
I especially miss--when I first moved to Columbia, MD, in 1983, we 
actually had them in the field behind our house, together with 
Meadowlarks, Killdeer, and an occasional Horned Lark.  Of these three 
species, only Killdeer seem to have sustained their populations, since 
they seem very adaptable to almost any kind of flat open terrain.

I've always regretted that I wasn't born early enough to experience 
Passenger Pigeons and Ivory-billed Woodpeckers, to cite only two of many 
extinct species.  It is sad to think that many members of the under-30 
generation will miss out on avian species that were abundant when we 
Baby Boomers were younger.  At minimum, I hope the November elections 
will give us leaders who are more sensitive to environmental issues like 
this.

With regret.

Dick Hegner
Columbia, MD

On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 11:40 AM, JAMES WILSON wrote:

> Just some thoughts from personal experience ...

I have a friend in Caroline County who is an avid hunter and 
environmentalist.   He has spent large sums of money improving over 200 
acres of land for better habitat for the birds and, in particular, 
bobwhite. He has raised over 1200 bobwhite from eggs for release on his 
property, partly for hunting and partly just to improve the population.  
(He raised the birds in isolation to avoid contact with humans.)  He has 
worked closely with County and state officials to do this.

I have walked his property and testify to hearing the quail and more 
Grasshopper sparrows than I have ever heard in one locale.

After seeing what he has done and reading the literature he has 
accumulated, my personal opinion is that bobwhite are diminishing 
because of loss of habitat.  Farmers do not farm like they used to and 
homeowners keep moving in.

It is also true that raising Bobwhite and releasing them is just putting 
out wonderful one course meals for all of the wildlife that dine on 
quail. Wildness and survival comes from being raised by a wild and 
surviving parent, plus having the proper habitat to live in and hide in.

And if you think "gee, I am gonna' go out and buy quail and raise them 
and release them and try to increase their numbers," you need state 
permits to do so ... if you want to do it legally.  I believe I am 
correct on this.  If not, please correct me if I am wrong.

I hear Bobwhites 2 or 3 times a year where I live and I am always 
surprised and pleased when I hear them.
Turkeys have been successfully reintroduced (I just saw 15 crossing the 
road by my home) but the money may not be there for Bobwhite.
Jim Wilson
Queenstown