quail_bird

I have a TRD Tacoma (2020) and really enjoy it. Best vehicle I’ve owned.

After driving back from Grand Isle/Port Fourchon this morning, buddy and I got to discussing what we think might be the best redfish spots closest to Baton Rouge. As a result, I am interested in what the board thinks. I/we don’t need specific spots (but always happy to learn of some) - more just general areas to check out. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Totally agree. Have worked on/been to properties that were crappy loblolly plantations and/or overgrown hellholes. Then they did the habitat work necessary... and the birds came. That said, for certain properties that are an islands unto themselves, translocation of wild birds (with proper permits, etc.) can be helpful.

See the talltimbers translocation info to get a sense for what they require in order to initiate a translocation project: TTRS Translocation Program

I’ve done telemetry (radio-tracking) on these types of “weird habitat” birds and basically you tend to need a pretty good source population to pump birds into these non-traditional habitat areas. But with enough birds, we would consistently track a number of reasonably large “forest coveys”, several “dry lake bed coveys”, etc.

Once the coveys break up in the spring, however, birds on nests are back to more traditional habitat because that’s where they need to feed the chicks once they hatch. Alternatively, even for nests in weird spots (hardwood forest edges), once the chicks hatch, the parents move them to more traditional habitat areas.

Editing to add that i’m not trying to say any of this is a rule (more a generality) - quail do weird stuff all the time.

It’s really not so much the ants but rather land use and land management changes. Pretty significant thinning to achieve low basal areas and remove hardwoods, burning programs, fields w/ ragweed &c. for chicks to feed, and sometimes supplemental feeding programs (for adults) are all critical to maintaining decent numbers of birds.

Kennel the puppy. Safest option all-around.