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By Jocelyn Wyatt (crimsontsavo)
It is a sad thing for sure, our quail have a failing population. A species that was once abundant has now started down the road of the passenger pigeon. Yet, even under such dire circumstances there is a ray of hope. You, alone, by yourself can help their failing populations! Creating a quail habitat really isn't all that hard. When you master this plan, you won't only be helping quail, you will help other native species as well.
Another thing you should take into consideration, your pets. Quail are pretty defenseless creatures and your dogs and cats will kill them if given the chance. It isn't their fault, it's in their nature to do so. Try to keep your pets contained. It's safer for the quail and it's safer for them. Pesticides are OUT. Don't kill the bugs your quail need to eat, it's a bit counterproductive. lol The same goes for herbicides, try to be as green as you can and your covey will thank you!
Let's not forget good plants for our feathered friends!
Quail are small birds with stubby legs. It's a small wonder they can get around at all. In order to give the best chance for success for your quail you must plant accordingly. Their babies are so tiny even a blade of grass can trip them, so they need areas that allow ease of movement without removing plenty of cover. It really isn't as hard as it sounds though! Quail naturally make their homes in brambly cover, places hard for many other creatures to navigate. This protects them from foxes and other predators. It is easy for humans to remove these "pesky" weeds from our fields, almost as easy as erradicating our precious quail population. Extremely thick vegetation creates a problem for quail as it makes it nearly impossible for them to forage and basically to move. Controlled burning can help rejuevenate the landscape, then if you disk the soil you will no doubt turn up many helpful NATIVE weeds these birds thrive on.
Things you can plant as natural food for quail. Tick Trefoil, Beggar-lice, Beggar-ticks, Sticktights Desmodium canadense Common Hackberry, American Hackberry Celtis occidentalis (May re-seed itself too well.) Alpine Strawberry, Sow-teat Strawberry, Wild Strawberry, Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca Western Poison Oak, Pacific Poison Oak Toxicodendron diversilobum Mullein Barley Pig Weed Deervetch Burr clover Oak Lupine Filaree Sages Salvia
Helpful links,
Quail Unlimited. http://www.qu.org/seed/order.cfm
FundWildlife. http://www.fundwildlife.org/articles/quail.html
Until we talk again, Jocie.
Discussion about this article:
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Not to mention they eat the fruit off these plants as well. Small wonder too their love of bunching grasses to help conceal them as they forage for seeds and insects. These plants not only offer protection from predators, but from the sun, wind, rain and snow as well. Wouldn't it be nice to know you gave a family a home? I bet they'd sure appreciate it. 
