THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



THF REARING OF BOBWHITE QUAIL 



How the Farmer's Boy^May Save and Protect These Birds of 



Economic Value 



BY 

 C. F. HODGE, Eugene, Oregon 



A bird does not need to be large in order to be of the great- 

 est economic importance. In the last number 01 The Oregon 

 Sportsman we discussed the food of the bobwhite and the evidence 

 indicated the great value of this bird in destroying insects and 

 weeds. As these values are beginning to be appreciated state 

 game departments are seriously considering the problem of pro- 

 tecting and increasing these birds up to the limits of their natural 

 weed seed and insect food supply, and the long closed seasons re- 

 cently voted in several important states is a practical judgment 

 that bobwhites are worth too much to agriculture to be used for 

 sport until such increase has been secured. As soon as they have 

 increased to the point where they render the greatest practical 

 service to agriculture, it will be necessary to reduce numbers 

 yearly. Then the surplus may be the most important game re- 

 source of the state. How to increase the bobwhite in Oregon is 

 a much easier problem than in many of the eastern states. 



The easiest way to increase the stock under Oregon condi- 

 tions will be to protect bobwhites from natural enemies, where 

 they already exist, and encourage them to breed naturally, any 

 surplus being trapped each fall for distribution to other parts of 

 the state. However, in cutting grain or hay, nests will be broken 

 up and every farmer 's boy and girl ought to know how to save the 

 eggs and rear the birds successfully. This, of course, will have 

 to be done under proper permits from the Fish and Game 

 Commission. 



The eggs of the bobwhite, or any bird, can be prevented from 

 chilling at any stage of incubation by carrying them in the crown 

 of a felt hat. A straw hat with a handkerchief in the crown will 

 do as well. In this way partridge eggs have been carried the 



Fag-e ten 



