Quail Movement

Abstract

In this chapter we develop a spatial model of population movement. The species of interest are northern bobwhite quail, which move between prairie patches that have been burned and exhibit different stages of succession. These patches are characterized by varying vegetative species and density. While bobwhite utilize different habitat types, they prefer open areas for most of their life activities like brood rearing, nesting, foraging, and roosting. We capture movement of quail among landscape patches and for various physical pressures on quail that come from predation, hunting, and weather, as well as periodic burning of patches.

The Blue Jay’s Lullaby Spiders and sowbugs and beetles and crickets, Slugs from the roses and ticks from the thickets, Grasshoppers, snails, and a quail’s egg or two—All to be regurgitated for you. Lullaby, lullaby, swindles and schemes, Flying’s not near as much fun as it seems.

(Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn)

A save-disabled version of STELLA and the computer models of this book are available at www.iseesystems.com/modelingdynamicbiologicalsystems.