Quail Eating Flower Buds in Arizona: Fence Them Out

Quail decimating flower buds in AZ—mothballs failed because birds have poor smell.

Best Solution

Fence the entire garden (sides and top) with 1/2-inch hardware cloth or bird netting. Quail walk/run; they don't fly into enclosed spaces easily.

Motion sprinklers, reflective tape, or dog presence may work briefly. See icwdm.org for hazing techniques.

Check AZ Game & Fish for depredation permits. Quail are game birds; regulations apply.

Supplemental feeding increases local population and future damage.

Pests: Nighttime Flower Damage: Deer, Not Groundhogs; Protecting Flowers from Pheasants: Netting Until Natural Food Returns; Falling Oriental Poppies: Wind Damage, Not Root Issues; Collecting and Sowing Dayflower (Commelina communis) Seeds; Dividing and Propagating Alocasia (Elephant Ear) and Seed Collection; Hydrangea Rust and Spider Mites: Diagnosis and Organic Control; Saving Impatiens with Damaged Root Balls; When to Start Seeds and Plant Annuals in Oregon: Frost Dates and Hardy Flowers; Why Impatiens Aren't Flowering; Canterbury Bells, Zinnias, and Long-Lived Indoor Flowers

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