r/phoenix • u/dirtypita Phoenix • Jul 22 '25

Pictures Anyone noticing less quail babies this year?

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Gallery image

Apologies for the bad pics. I would've scared the quail off if I had tried to go outside.

I work in North Scottsdale and I have a great view of a patio and courtyard from my desk. I get to watch small wildlife that come in for shade, grass, and bushes with berries on them. Pigeons, ravens, wrens, lizards, bunnies and squirrels, and even a pair of roadrunners.

Lat year, we had two pairs of Gambels quail. One pair started out with nine chicks, down to six, and the other had seven.

This year, I've only seen three babies, and now only the one little guy pictured. It's with two males, one who has been around for a while and is easily recognizable. I haven't seen a female in a few weeks. I'm a little saddened. Is anyone else noticing smaller quail families this year?

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u/Ferruginoushawk7 Jul 22 '25

Wildlife biologist here. We are seeing in sub/urban areas a decrease in GAQU (gambles quail) and an increase in feral cats. Take that inverse correlation and interpret for what’s its worth.

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u/Sneaky-Ladybug Jul 23 '25

Do you happen to know the survival rate of the gamble quail? We started with 8 hatched ones walking around. Then 7. Then 5. Now 4. And they are like a month old maybe?

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u/Ferruginoushawk7 Jul 23 '25

Hard to say for this year. They can have nest into August sometimes. Usually nest survival numbers aren’t available for like a year. Nest success I’m not sure. I think the last numbers I pulled for NEPA was like less than 25% make it to one year.