CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



371 



QUAIL BANDING RETURNS FOR 1932 AND 1933 



By Gordon H. True, Jr. 



In July, 1932, the Division of Fish and Game inaugurated the prac- 

 tice of banding the quail liberated on sanctuaries in southern California, 

 with the conviction that, through banding, important data relative to 

 the quail refuge program would be obtained. Already we have learned 

 jnuch concerning the spread of birds from various points of liberation 



and the data gathered rela- 



tive to the survival of game 

 farm reared quail have en- 

 abled us to answer the critics 

 who condemn the practice of 

 liberating pen-raised birds 

 and question their successful 

 reproduction under natural 

 conditions. In addition to 

 possessing a certain scientific 

 value, the bands serve to re- 

 mind the hunter of the 

 efforts that are being made 

 on his behalf. 



A band encircling the leg 

 of a quail may provide us 

 with information in two 

 ways. The actual return of 

 a band after the bird has 

 been shot constitutes one of 

 these. The second way is 

 through the provision of an 

 easy means of field identifi- 

 cation since banded birds 

 may be easily picked out 

 from the others by the use 

 of field glasses or the un- 

 aided eye. This paper deals 

 primarily with the first- 

 named method of securing 



data, but before proceeding directly to a discussion of baud returns, a 

 general treatment of the banding program is advisable. 



Over a period of time beginning in the month of July, 1932, and 

 ending August, 1934, 16,728 valley quail have been banded and released 

 south of the Tehachapi. In addition, 839 Gambel quail have been 

 banded and liberated. Of the valley quail, 7517 were wild birds 

 imported from the Avest coast of Lower California and the balance were 

 reared on the State game farm at Chino. 



A number four aluminum poultry band has proved to be the most 

 satisfactory for quail banding purposes. The bands are serially num- 



iFicj. 139. Catching quail prior to banding at 

 Los Serranos State Game Farm, Chino. 

 Photo by G. H. True, Jr. 



