Quail released to target town's tick population

More than three dozen quail have been dispatched to gobble up ticks at Longwood Estate.

Brookhaven Town officials on Tuesday watched as 40 bobwhite quail were released at the town park by students from Longwood High School in Middle Island. The school’s science club had helped to incubate quail eggs, and club members cared for the birds for about five weeks before they were released, town officials said.

The bird release program was coordinated by the town, school district and Islip-based nonprofit Seatuck Environmental Association. The quail are expected to help control the spread of ticks, especially deer ticks, which often carry Lyme disease, town officials said.