On the surface, California Quail are not doing too bad. Unlike other endangered or threatened species in the Golden State, quail are still fairly common and can often be seen in wooded areas around Southern California. However, appearances can be deceiving. As roadways and housing developments continue to be built across the state, quail populations are becoming increasingly homogenous. Subsequently, genetic health in Southern California quail populations is decreasing leaving this iconic species more susceptible to diseases and birth defects. Joey Curti, a PhD candidate at UCLA, is doing the first large scale study of California Quail genetics to get a better sense of their genetic health and the factors that lead to degradation. He feels this data is important to understand because if the health of one species collapses, the entire ecosystem can be weakened. Quail are an important food source for apex predators like mountain lions, bobcats and raptors and quail eggs are important for nest predators like foxes and raccoons. As quail become less resilient, so do the animals that rely on them for food.