Bringing California Quail Back to the Presidio

A California quail family in the Presidio in 2000. By 2008 the last of a once-thriving population was gone. Damien Raffa / Presidio Trust.

A lost bird

California quail were once abundant in the Presidio of San Francisco. They spread seeds, and visitors could watch them and hear their distinctive calls all over the park. But habitat loss and feral cats drove them into decline, and by 2008 the last of a once-thriving population was gone.

In November 2023, the Presidio Trust was in the planning phase of a reintroduction, to bring back what the birds did for the ecosystem and for people.

The case for quail

Since 2019, the Presidio has worked with the San Francisco Estuary Institute on the groundwork. Their final report, The Case for Quail Reintroduction, builds on earlier research showing that the Presidio's habitat restoration, together with the return of coyotes, has created favorable conditions for quail. It has two parts.

• The benefits: how quail contribute to good mental health and a sense of place, and how the community can take part — a public campaign, volunteer opportunities, and possible social science studies.
• The feasibility: models of extinction probability under different management choices. Estuary Institute researchers estimated outcomes for decisions the Presidio must make — how many birds to release, the sex ratio, the site's carrying capacity, the effects of inbreeding, and timing — and recommended approaches, management actions and follow-up needs.

California quail in the Presidio. Damien Raffa / Presidio Trust.

What comes next

The report helps the Presidio's wildlife managers choose the best way to bring back a much-loved species while involving the public. The Trust aims to begin the reintroduction within two years.

It matters beyond quail. With the world facing biodiversity and climate crises, urban reintroductions like this one will increasingly be a tool for keeping ecosystems healthy — and what the Presidio learns will help others trying to return species to cities and manage for biodiversity and people over the long term.

Get involved: the project welcomes support and expertise, including in capturing and managing quail. See the Presidio's Bringing Back the California Quail page, or contact the Trust's wildlife ecologist, Dr. Phoebe Parker-Shames.

Sources

Based on Dr. Phoebe Parker-Shames (wildlife ecologist, Presidio Trust), "Feasibility and Hope: Planning the Return of California Quail to the Presidio," Bay Area Nature & Science Blog, National Park Service; published by the National Park Service and in the public domain; rewritten in hubnx's own words.