Quail Bundle

Bushes & Shrubs 

The Quail Bundle was created in cooperation with the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to provide excellent food and habitat for upland bird species.

The bundle consists of four shrub species and 100 plants to create a habitat.

• 25 American Plum - thicket forming, 6 to 12 feet tall. Native to Kansas.
• 25 Golden Currant - thicket forming, 3-5 feet tall. Native to Kansas.
• 25 Fragrant Sumac - non-thicket forming, 3 to 6 feet tall. Native to Kansas.
• 25 Chokecherry - thicket-forming, 6 to 10 feet tall. Native to Kansas

When planted as recommended, the planting will occupy approximately a 40- by 40- foot area

Quail coveys congregate in areas called headquarters that have the food and shelter they need to survive.

Coveys will have many headquarters in an area and spend time at each of them depending on the time of year, weather, and other conditions. To get from one headquarter to another, quail use travel corridors. These are thick patches of shrubs or grasses to hide in as they move between headquarters.

This bundle was created to give the planter the opportunity to create these headquarters. After two or more headquarters have been created, the planter can connect the areas with thick growing shrubs. Two rows of shrubs provide enough cover for traveling birds.

Planting these thickets creates areas to escape predators, survive harsh weather, find food, and travel safely. Grassy areas mixed with a variety of forbs and legumes are vital for upland birds. These areas harbor insects that are an important source of protein for mature birds and their young. Native bunch grasses mixed with native forbs planted in strips or blocks adjacent to newly established areas offer excellent opportunities for birds to thrive.

Use the planting design below as one example of how block plantings are used with traveling corridors to give upland birds the habitat they need to survive. Your planting does not have to look exactly the same.

Your property may already have areas for travel corridors but lack some headquarters. Perhaps it is covered in heavy thickets and needs to be manicured into block plantings for grassy areas and travel corridors. The key to upland bird success is providing these important areas. Your dedication to creating and maintaining these areas will give upland birds a chance to survive and increase in number.

Quail Bundles: https://www.kansasforests.org/conservation_trees/products/bundles/Quail%20bundle%202018.pdf