Levy Branch Water Lines @ The B.A.N.W.R.

 On 8-14-20 Zack May, Tony Valentino and Jim Littlejohn from SAQF along with Charles Corson from BANWR updated Cemetery well settings and ran a 200′ water line to help vegetation grow year around. Jim Levy and Tom Waddell have been experimenting for over a year with different methods to help all species of wildlife have more food and cover.

They discovered by running small amounts of water continuously they attracted just about every animal and bird in the area. SAQF purchased plumbing hardware and BANWR supplied 2″ black poly water line that was run 200′ from the well. Three 1/8″ holes were drilled in the pipe to dispense water into small draws —so the water would pool up for wildlife consumption.

We were careful to keep the water line above the half way line on the water tank, so gravity wouldn’t empty the tank. This is really a simple/inexpensive  way to dispense water in the desert . SAQF and BANWR are planning on running Levy branch water lines at several more wells this summer—please contact Jim Littlejohn—520-490-1374— if you can volunteer.

Mearns Quail Diet Study

S.A.Q.F. has helped fund a study on what, where and when Mearns Quail eat.

Mearns Quail Managenment in Arizona

How Rock Dams work in the Desert

Enhancing Quail Habitat

1. Like most things outdoors in our area, water is the key—same holds for quail.

• If a well is operational or a non-operable well can be re-energized, it is a great start.
  Running a pipe off the water tank so small pools of water accumulate, will attract all kinds of birds
  and animals. Our first project was Ramsay well with Pima County Parks and Recreation which
  accomplished exactly that result. Enhancing a ground water spring would accomplish the same
• 
  results—and we are looking for these areas.
• In eroded areas, slowing down water will reduce erosion, allow grasses/forbs to produce
  in new areas and eventually raise the ground water table. One Rock Dams [ORD] accomplish just
  that. SAQF has built these for private ranchers and on federal lands with volunteer labor and paid
  labor.

1. “Half-cutting small Mesquite trees to provide escape cover and help produce better areas for
   grasses/forbs to grow in shaded areas. SAQF volunteers have worked with BANWR employees to
   accomplish this improvement for quail, rabbits, pronghorn and deer.
2. We are experimenting with food plots at BANWR—it is too soon to tell if these will pay off. Some
   of these are irrigated, so we will be able to compare to those in a natural setting.
3. On a similar note, the SAQF Habitat Committee is working with BLM and AZGFD to install
   entrance/escape ramps on rancher water tanks.

HWY 82 Clean -Up

One of A.Z.Q.F.’s latest initiatives is The A.D.O.T. Adopt a Highway Clean Up Program.The Chapter committed to 1 mile of  AZ Hwy 82 between Patagonia and Sonoita,(mile markers 28-29).The Chapter’s goal is to conduct 3-4 clean ups per year.On our first clean up day 9 Chapter Members picked up 27 Bags of garbage, everything from Soda cans to a Refrigerator.Contact Us to get involved.

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                                                  S.A.Q.F. Habitat Projects  

 

 

 

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                                        Water for Wildlife Project 

In the Fall of 2015 the chapter initiated a program to improve water availability for quail.Specifically,we targeted existing wells on public lands that were originally designed to service livestock.These wells would be modified by adding ground level troughs useable by not only quail,but all wildlife,and would be maintained as year-round waters.The modified wells provide a key habitat element during periods of extended drought without relying on seasonal rains.

PIMA County,owner of a large block of land west of the Whetstone Mountains, was the first organization contacted. They welcomed our idea and advised they too had embraced the same concept. Additionally, they had already initiated well modifications on some of their properties.

In partnership with PIMA County Natural Resources Division, we selected a well located on the north end of the Sands Ranch as our first candidate.Our agreement is for Southern Arizona  Quail Forever to fund the purchase of the equipment needed to modify the well, while PIMA County will acquire the hardware,

store it until needed, and deliver it to the site. They will also provide the manpower to install the modification with volunteer assistance from our Chapter.One of our volunteers has agreed to provide welding service needed to assemble the fencing that will surround the trough; protecting it from damage by cattle.

Fall of 2016 was selected for incorporating the modification.We anticipate this is only the beginning of the program.We intend a repetition annually for the foreseeable future.