Bobwhite quail populations have dropped from an estimated 59 million birds in 1980 to 20 million birds in 1999, primarily due to loss of habitat as abandoned farmlands grew into forests or were developed. Other upland birds with similar habitat requirements, including many songbird species, have also suffered significant declines. Unless action is taken to restore habitat for these species, wildlife scientists expect this downward trend to continue.

The populations of some birds, for example, wild turkeys, have been successfully restored through large-scale conservation initiatives. These successes have given wildlife conservationists reason to be optimistic that, with an effective, collaborative approach, they may be able to reverse the bobwhite decline as well.

In August 2004, President Bush announced the Quail Initiative, committing an estimated $125 million to the project. The initiative is expected to create more than a quarter million acres of habitat for the northern bobwhite quail and other upland bird species, primarily through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

The CRP’s enrollment authority has been set at 250,000 acres for the initiative. To date, more than 48,000 acres have been enrolled. Quail populations are expected to increase by 750,000 birds annually across the 35-state region.