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Field-based research, education, and partnerships advancing wildlife conservation and resilient landscapes across the Borderlands.
Using Automated Recording Units to Estimate Montezuma Quail Occupancy in Trans-Pecos, Texas
By Emilie Brochon, Maureen Frank, Jennifer Smith, and Ryan Luna
Montezuma quail are a cryptic, secretive bird species that is difficult to capture and study. Previous research relied on low-success capture techniques, anecdotal observations, or harvested samples. The resulting information is severely lacking in their population dynamics.
More importantly, research on this species lacks a methodology to determine and monitor population estimates, which are required for proper management. By using passive acoustic monitoring, Emilie’s project hopes to utilize vocalization data to estimate Montezuma quail occupancy across the Trans-Pecos. By deploying autonomous recording units year-round, she hopes to capture data throughout the full range of breeding and non-breeding seasons, which may provide the information needed to determine how habitat use changes throughout the year.
