June Weather Report: What It Means for Quail
Despite some good, localized precipitation, much of AZ, NM, and West TX remain locked in drought – tough news for nesting hens and brood survival. Limited green vegetation and low insect production means low survival, especially in the driest zones…but there’s hope on the horizon (see the following slides).
Some desert zones in AZ and NM got up to 500% of normal rainfall last month. This sparked a short-term green-up, which may have resulted in adequate breeding conditions in certain areas. Despite the rain, southeast AZ and southwest NM are still dry. Expect isolated pockets of good productivity across the region if the trend continues.
Rain eased drought in big chunks of TX, OK, and KS – just in time for nesting season. Brood cover is bouncing back, bugs are booming, and chicks have a better shot at survival this summer.
Parts of the Plains such as KS, OK, TX, and southwest AR saw 10-15 inches of rain – that’s up to 400% of normal! In certain areas that much rain could be detrimental to quail, but in drought-stricken areas, it means healthier habitat, more insects, and better odds for successful brooding.
Nebraska and Iowa’s drought footprint shrank this month. In NE, severe drought dropped from 35% to 23% of the state. That’s should give nesting hens and young broods a fighting chance.
The 8- to 14-day precipitation outlook shows a promising surge of monsoon rain building across the Desert Southwest, right in the heart of peak brooding season for many desert quail populations.
Heavy rainfall is expected across large swaths of New Mexico, northeastern Colorado, eastern Kansas, and much of Nebraska and Iowa – all regions where quail are currently nesting or brooding chicks. This could mean improved habitat and more insects or flooded nests and drowned chicks depending on the amount of rain. Stay tuned.
The Takeaway:
Across much of quail country, drought has likely been tough on nesting hens and young broods so far. However, more rain ahead for the Plains and SW means good news (unless it floods) for nesting cover, chick survival, and late broods. Timely rains could reshape the uplands.
#quailforever
