Bring back Bobwhite

   Bobwhite quail were once a Shelter Island local. These cute little ground birds are Tick Eating Machines!!! Help us give them a population boost so we can cut down on chemical use and reduce tick population the natural way!  

    There has previously been no serious effort on Shelter Island to address the significant loss of bobwhite population and habitat. The Shelter Island Bobwhite Restoration Initiative aims at accomplishing the following goals:

  1) Restore and maintain bobwhite populations in line with natural carrying capacity. 

  2) Encourage best land management practices to improve early successional habitat. 

  3) Decrease the proliferation of ticks and associated tick-borne illnesses through natural means. 

   The Average bobwhite population density on managed land is approximately one covey (10-12 birds) per 14 acres. The current Island population is less then 1 bird per 20 acres.  The Shelter Island Bobwhite Restoration Initiative will seek to collaborate with various individuals, businesses, organizations, and local government in order to accomplish above goals. Funding will be used to purchase and release Quail in strategic locations around Shelter Island.    

       Our goal is to release 10,000 adult birds over a 3 year period.