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The Quail-Tech Alliance and Texas Tech University begin a five-year research initiative that will look into the problem of quail decline in the region.
Written by Norman Martin
Natural resources management students will have the opportunity to be a part of the cutting-edge research set to begin in January.
In an effort to stem the decline of Bobwhite Quail and Scaled Quail in Texas, the Quail-Tech Alliance and Texas Tech University have designated a 38-county research area in west central and northwest Texas, an area that encompasses more than 22 million acres or roughly 10 times the size of Yellowstone National Park.
Within each of the counties, one ranch will be designated as an anchor ranch to serve as a field research or demonstration site for five years. Each of the anchor ranches will host a specific research or demonstration project during one year of the five-year period.
“This five-year initiative will produce one of the largest collections of quail data ever generated in a program of this kind,” said Charles Hodges, one of the founders of the Quail-Tech Alliance. Among the historic ranches already on the list are the Pitchfork Ranch, W. T. Waggoner Ranch, Mill Iron Ranch in Collingsworth County, George Allen’s Circle A in Archer County, and Phil Guitar’s Grissom Ranch in Callahan County.
“We plan to use cutting-edge science to attack the problem of quail decline,” said Brad Dabbert, research project director and associate chairman of the Department of Natural Resources Management, voicing the need for a much better understanding of the multiple factors that influence quail population growth.
“Our goal is to increase the acreage of suitable quail habitat throughout the region,” he said. Quail numbers across the state are down, primarily because of disappearing habitat and land fragmentation.
Dabbert said the broad research area was specifically designed to study multiple areas with diverse weather patterns and habitat characteristics. And by working with the ranchers to develop customized research projects, the needs of the individual ranch operations will be better served.
The Research
The Quail-Tech Alliance will conduct research and demonstration projects on an array of topics, including:
- Investigating the potential benefits or detriments of supplemental feeding
- Understanding the factors that influence over-winter survival of adults and summer-to-fall survival of the brood
- Refining the way prescribed burning, brush modification and livestock grazing are used as tools of habitat management
Separately, research results will be relayed to each anchor ranch immediately, and a “Quail Management Manual” is scheduled to be printed at the end of each 5-year project cycle.
The research program begins Jan. 1, though the group indicated it will be enlisting ranches and personnel this fall. As part of the project, several Texas Tech doctoral, graduate and undergraduate students will be employed.
“This project provides a very exciting opportunity to study the decline of bobwhite and blue quail populations and their habitat requirements,” said Ron Sosebee, a professor emeritus with the Department of Natural Resources Management. “The diverse environmental conditions throughout the Rolling Plains of Texas provide excellent conditions for detailed field research and demonstration projects.”
At the end of the multi-year project, the Texas Tech researchers hope to have a greater handle on ways to increase and sustain quail populations. “The opportunity to increase quail populations and improve their habitat is exciting and has great promise,” Sosebee said.
The Quail-Tech Alliance is a partnership between the natural resources management department and Quail First, a non-profit organization that has a founding board of six members and an advisory board which is still being formed.
11 Responses to “Quail Conservation Effort Takes Wing”
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The The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is made up of six departments:
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October 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 am
I am extremely interested in this project and applaud the work. I have a 700 a ranch in Stephens County aptly named Quail Alley Ranch. I’ve leased another 800a adjacent to it. I have worked hard for 17 years to take care of my quail and am just about at witts end. I would do anything to help you all with this project. My number in Dallas is 214-777-1115. Let me know if I can help. thanks, Ken Raney
October 6th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
This is a great program. It is good to see Tech stepping up and becoming involved in research to help turn around the decline in quail numbers. We are in the center of some of the best quail country in the nation and should be in the forefront of research and “recovery”.
Kudos and many thanks to Dr. Drabbert, Charles Hodges, and all those who have worked so hard to get this done.
Where / how can individuals donate time/effort/money to be involved with the program?
Bob Stevenson ’71
Dallas
October 12th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
iam ibrahem farag rihan demonstrator “assistant “in animal,poultry behaviur and management also my master point on “studies on some managemental factors affecting performance or japanese quail reared intensively ” and i hope to get any chance with your project or any comment.
please i would to keep in touch if possible, thanks
your”s
ibrahem
waiting reply bero_vet2005@yahoo.com
November 4th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Have several places south Taylor County and am seeing fewer and fewer coveys….. Pls keep us informed about the project and how others can help.
Thanks,
Sherry ’79
November 5th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Fabulous! So very proud of you all for getting this off the ground.
We have 400 acres in the Hill Country; quail have all but disappeared during the drought.
Keep me apprised and let me know how I can help.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
This sounds super. We have a section (owned and leased) in Motley county which we are attempting to manage for quail and some other game. Please send updates and reports. Also, we would be willing to participate as a research site if that would be helpful.
November 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
My commendations for your initiation of a program that is sure to determine the cause of the decline, and necessary actions for a resurgence of, the quail population in central and northern Texas. The decline in the native quail numbers has been a depressing subject of discussion among us avid quail hunters for several years, now. No one seems to know the real reason for the decline, though many of us have held to our opinions. Some have suggested drought; some, diseases; some, fire ants. The true determining factors for the decline, and a “cutting edge” scientific solution to reverse the trend will certainly be a cause to celebrate.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
I am so happy to see Tech begin this initiative. We live on a couple of acres surrounded on two sides by ranchland near Bushland, TX. When we first moved here we had Blue Scale Quail and Northern Qauil in great numbers. We enjoyed watching the different families parade across our yard, there were many. Then we didn’t see any Blue Scale for a couple of years, and less Northern Quail. This year 6 Blue Scale have returned and we are thrilled to see them again. I homeschool my children and we keep track of when they come and go and their numbers. Your research will be a wonderful way for my children to further educate themselves. Can’t wait to read about your research as it becomes available.
November 11th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Great news ! I hope it is done completely and thouroughly with no preconceived notions.
Our family owns 2200 acre under wildlife mgmt for years, Southern Nolan Couny. Looks like a John Cowan quail painting , but we have had steady decline since 2003 season for sure.
Possilble: preconcieved notion I hear often: We are starting to see fire ants just the past 2 years. But we hunted on a ranch South of Refugio that was literally covered with fire ants. Dogs alway pointed 20+ covies per day. 33 covies was our best day.
Even though Aggie owned, Tech Quail Researchers welcome on our ranch, if they can behave themselves !
November 17th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I’m sure the Tech people are familiar with Dale Rollins, Professor & Wildlife Specialist with the Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service. Most of his career has been devoted to the study of quail in the northwestern quarter of the State. Among his many quail related activities is management of the Rolling PlaIns Quail Research Ranch (RPQRR) 13 miles west of Roby, TX in Fisher County. They are conducting much of the same research that apparently that Tech is planning. I hope that there will coordination between programs. Texas quail need all of the help they can get regardless of school colors. The long term downward trend in quail is alarming, but the unexplained collapse of the quail population during September and October of this year in many west central counties is frightening.
January 3rd, 2010 at 9:38 am
Have property in Northern Stonewall County and would like to improve habitat-Please keep me in mind if this place would qualify as “Test”area.Thanks!Wayne Bissett(432)685-3296.