The Northern Bobwhite, or Virginia Quail, has an extensive native range from southern Ontario to southern Mexico and from the Atlantic coast to the Rocky Mountains. By the late 19th century, quail hunting for sport became a widespread activity in many states, including Georgia. The longleaf and loblolly pine forests of southwestern Georgia became especially prominent as hunting grounds as a result of Thomasville's reputation as a leading winter resort before Florida coastal resorts eclipsed it. In 1970, the Georgia General Assembly designated the Northern Bobwhite as the official game bird of Georgia. However, in Georgia and throughout its range, the quail's populations have dropped by more than 75 percent since that time as a result of multiple factors ranging from overhunting to habitat loss from land-use changes and pesticide use. | Creator: Louis Agassiz Fuertes | Date: ca. 1910s | Source: Wikimedia CommonsDownload Original File
