Trial Victorian Stubble Quail population survey results

The results of the Victoria’s first statewide survey of the Victoria’s Stubble Quail population are now available.

The results of Victoria’s first statewide survey of Victoria’s Stubble Quail population are now available.

Results from the survey show an estimated 3.1 million Stubble Quail in Victoria, with the highest population densities located in non-native pasture and seasonal wetlands.

The survey was conducted in January 2022, at 54 randomly selected Stubble Quail habitat sites including native tussock grasslands, dryland crop, non-native pasture, and seasonal wetlands.

Wildlife ecologists walked more than 200km of transects on public and private land to estimate quail numbers at each site.

This survey was conducted as a trial for an ongoing monitoring program to ensure the long-term sustainability of Victoria’s Stubble Quail population.

Review of the methodology found that, while the survey technique was somewhat successful, some changes are needed to improve the efficiency of the survey.

As a result, the number of Stubble Quail in Victoria is likely to be higher than the estimated 3.1 million.

While the results of this year’s harvest estimates are not yet available, the results of this research suggest that Stubble Quail are not currently at risk of overharvesting due to hunting. This is based on the long-term average harvest of 155,000 Stubble Quail per year and that the abundance estimate is considered to underestimate the population. The 2022 harvest estimates will be available in due course.

The Victorian Government’s Sustainable Hunting Action Plan (SHAP) 2021 - 2024 commits to undertaking ongoing quail abundance monitoring. This survey is a key milestone in the delivery of the new abundance monitoring program.

Data collected will be used to track population trends and improve the understanding of the ecology and the sustainable management of this native game bird.

The survey was conducted by experienced independent ecologists from Wildlife Unlimited Pty Ltd. The Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research undertook the data analysis and prepared the Abundance Estimates for Stubble Quail in Victoria report.

For more information visit Quail Research.