Stubble Quail abundance survey preliminary results

The preliminary results of Victoria’s third statewide abundance survey estimated there were 5.3 million Stubble Quail in Victoria.

The preliminary results of Victoria’s third statewide abundance survey estimated there were 5.3 million Stubble Quail in Victoria.

The survey was conducted in January 2024 at 70 randomly selected Stubble Quail habitat sites across native grasslands, dryland crop and non-native pasture.

Teams of wildlife ecologists walked hundreds of kilometres of transects on public and private land, flushing and counting Stubble Quail at each site. Total abundance was then estimated based on the extent of quail habitat in Victoria.

The highest population densities were found in the North Central, Glenelg-Hopkins, Mallee, Wimmera and Corangamite Catchment Management Authority regions.

This is the third survey of an ongoing annual monitoring program to ensure the long-term sustainability of Victoria’s Stubble Quail hunting season.

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

The Victorian Government’s Sustainable Hunting Action Plan 2021 - 2024 commits to undertaking ongoing quail abundance monitoring.

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.

The final technical report will be available later in the year.

For more information visit Quail Research