ture. “Other states are aware,” he said. “Virginia is

ture.

“Other states are aware,” he said. “Virginia is not. Really what’s missing - and it’s true throughout the country - is education of the economic benefits of wildlife. Hunters spend a tremendous amount of money (for wildlife-related recreation.) Our game managers just don’t know how to measure these economic benefits.”

Much of Keim’s wildlife management consists of simply avoiding destruction of good habitat. He cited woodcock habitat as an example. “So far,” he said, “what I’ve done for woodcocks has been incidental. I destroy no woodcock cover.” He observed that the tendency of the modem “grassland farmer” is to destroy brushy or marshy cover by grazing or clearing.

Other wildlife on Quail Call Farm is managed less passively. Quail and other ground nesting birds, in particular, need a helping hand. “Because of weather conditions and predators in Virginia,” said Keim, “ground nesting birds are subject to casualty.”

Quad and turkeys get special attention. Currenlty, there are about 35 turkeys and 25 singing pairs of quail on the property.

Environmental pressures on quail populations include cold, icy winters, heavy rains during the nesting season and predation. The farm’s predator population includes foxes, coons, skunks, minks and three pairs of great homed owls. Bobcats are not numerous enough there to be a problem.

“Predators serve a valuable purpose,” said Keim. “I trap them only to achieve balance, never to eliminate them.” Usually, predator control on the farm is limited to a week or two in January, when he sometimes has to call in a professional trapper. Trapping is only a last resort; one gets the impression that Keim enjoys the presence of predators as well as other wildlife.

Heavy losses of quail occurred during severe winters a few years ago. These losses were statewide, and on Quail Call Farm, “we lost 23 coveys— lock, stock and barrel,” Keim said. Hunting is carefully monitored, and he has not allowed any quail shooting for the past seven years. “I never shoot into a covey under 12 birds,” he explained, adding that quail should never by hunted in late afternoon, to give the scattered birds a chance to “covey up” before nightfall.

Despite recent pressures on the quail population, Keim has hopes that 1985 will be the “Year of the Quail.” Local bobwhite populations are just beginning to rebound. “With luck,” said Keim, “quail may be on the way back.” Nonetheless, he was quick to point out that roughly half of this year’s quail nests have already been wiped out by recent heavy rains.

Keim’s quail management practices include careful planning, monitoring the birds’ breeding populations and planting special mixes of wheat, com, buckwheat, soybeans and millet. He has divided his tract into 20 overlapping units that he calls “covey ranges.” Each unit has enough food, cover and winter sun to support a covey.

For quail cover, he has planted hedgerows of autumn olive and Amur honeysuckle. He is not enthusiastic about the virtues of these plants - their seeds are very low in protein content. “If you’re mad at your neighbor, plant autumn olive,” he said. “It spreads like wildfire. Frankly, I don’t need it here. I’d be better off with bicolor lespedeza.”

Keim is hopeful that a new shrub lespedeza will be a valuable species to plant for wildlife management. He said that reportedly, “It comes up in the woods and will grow in the shade and holds its seed for a long time.”

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of wildlife management on Quail Call Farm is Keim’s system of pond management. He has six ponds - most of which can be readily drained-and additional ponds are planned. Draining is an effective way to control snapping