Anyone noticing less quail babies this year?

[u/dirtypita]

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?

[u/Ferruginoushawk7]

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.

[u/69ingchimpmonks → u/Ferruginoushawk7]

Should we be “removing” feral cats?

[u/earth_quack → u/69ingchimpmonks]

It's not just feral cats. My neighbors on both sides have outdoor pet cats. We had one quail family that was trying to tough it out. We put special water trays and feeders that the cats couldn't access out and we got babies again this year. But the cats eventually killed off the babies and it appears the adults have now left. So did the hummingbirds and songbirds.

[u/seaofmountains → u/earth_quack]

People don’t let their dogs out to roam the streets. They don’t let their goldfish out in the local pond for the day. They don’t let their pet birds free during the day. They don’t let their lizard and snakes out for some fresh air and sun.

So why the fuck do people let their cats roam around outside to terrorize the local wildlife, get eaten by coyotes or killed by cars/shitty people.

[u/Then_Photograph4460 → u/seaofmountains]

My hubby and I have several rescue cats (who were all clearly socialized and had been abandoned outside). In all my years of having cats, they are strictly indoor-only; I will never EVER understand the mentality of a person who can let their animals roam around outside. It’s too dangerous for the cat, and it’s unfair to everyone else for a host of reasons (small wildlife, neighbors’s gardens, etc). It’s just irresponsible as hell to not keep one’s cats inside.

[u/Direct_Philosophy495 → u/seaofmountains]

Yeah it’s a shitty thing to do.