Bobwhite quail in the Apalachicola National Forest are likely to see an improvement in their habitat following a wildfire earlier in June.
The “Quail Fire” burned about 350 acres during the first week of June in an area that is a focal point of the Upland Ecosystem Restoration Project, a statewide initiative to restore quail habitat across Florida’s public lands.
UERP is headed by Coordinator Greg Hagan whose office is located at Tall Timbers. The project is a partnership between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tall Timbers and a number of other state and federal partners.
Although UERP is a few decades old, for the past several years, Hagan has worked with U.S. Forestry officials to introduce prescribed fire in the area near Tallahassee where the wildfire occurred on intervals that are beneficial to quail.
Because the area is regularly managed with prescribed fire keeping vegetation and fuel loads low, the wildfire was easily manageable and contained with the Apalachicola National Forest fire management team choosing to allow the fire to burn to a natural road break.
Hagan, who monitors quail in the area, said although the timing of the fire was not ideal from a nesting standpoint, the net benefit will provide habitat for birds raising broods nearby or quail nesting later in the season.
“While there may be some short-term negative impacts because of the timing of the fire on direct nest in the area, overall, it could be beneficial by creating new brood habitat,” Hagan said. “For any late season nesters, it probably provides some optimal habitat conditions.”
Read more about the Upland Ecosystem Restoration Project
The Quail Enhancement Area in the Apalachicola National Forest is a focal point of the Upland Ecosystem Restoration Project to improve bobwhite quail habitat on Florida’s public lands.
