North Hempstead Celebrated 10 Years Of Tick-Fighting Quail Program On Friday

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — The Town of North Hempstead recently released 100 Northern Bobwhite quail along the Hempstead Harbor Shoreline Trail in Port Washington in its ongoing effort to combat ticks.

The 10th annual quail release on July 24 used the ground-dwelling birds as a natural way to help reduce tick populations.

Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, members of the Town Board and Sally Wellinger, executive director of the Center for Environmental Education & Discovery (CEED), took part in the release.

Fifty of this year's quail were raised at Clark Botanic Garden, the Town's 21-acre educational garden. Many people helped raise and care for the birds, including Town staff, volunteers, and leaders from CEED.

The Town of North Hempstead has been trying to do its part in controlling tick populations without the use of pesticides. The Town was the first municipality on Long Island to use Northern Bobwhite quail as a natural method of tick control. Since the program began, about 300 quail have been raised and released, according to the Town.

These birds forage on insects and pose no risk to people, pets, or the environment – ultimately, they support the ecosystem.

"Our quail may be small, but they do some big work when it comes to fighting ticks," Supervisor DeSena said.

Town officials said the quail initiative is one of several environmental programs in North Hempstead, alongside efforts such as the Native Plant Residential Rebate Program, Native Tree Giveaway, Rain Barrel and Composter Sales, participation in the Mayor's Monarch Pledge and the Nitrogen Smart Communities Program.