Second Clutch This Year?

[Cast N Blast]

I posted earlier about scouting for quail this year. One aspect I neglected to mention was that many of the locations I checked in San Diego and Imperial county was that I seemed to see a second clutch of chicks. I don’t recall exact dates but my trips ranged from May through the end of September. I saw the little guys running after their parents in late spring-ish timeframe, and I definitely saw small chicks on trips in late August and September.

For others here, any similar observations? Anyone have insights on the conditions needed to produce a second clutch? I’ve heard late spring rain. I have not really noticed this phenomenon but the sheer numbers of quail I am seeing compared to prior years at these locations plus the chicks I saw throughout the offseason make me think this did occur in many So Cal locations.

Anyway, just wanted to share this observation and see what others had to say. I have not done any scouting yet for mountain quail but curious if others know if mountain quail will also throw a second clutch.View attachment 46703

 

[Snake Charmer]

Yep it can happen when you have a good rain year.

 

[ilovesprig]

Most biologists believe ground nesting birds (quail, chukar, turkeys, etc.) do NOT produce 2 separate clutches....What happens is hens renest, if they lose their 1st or 2nd nesting attempt.

Think about it...If a small covey of quail has say 16 birds in it and half are hens...If 4 hens produce 10 chicks each that covey is now close to 50...If the remaining hens produce 5-8 chicks on their 2nd attempt...Then that original 16 birds is 60 or 70...Turkeys will even attempt a 3rd nesting…This is why you see all sizes during the breeding season (April-Sept.) and covey's can get much bigger in one good spring (rain at the right time).

 

[sportyg]

I usually see them in the same area I coyote hunt but not so much this year, was going to do a quail/coyote hunt last week but only saw a couple of quail so gave them a pass. There are lots of jacks around the area however.