Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. James Cathey, 979-845-7471, jccathey@tamu.edu
KERRVILLE – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will co-conduct two “Facing the Quail Decline” workshops in Kerr and Mason counties in September.
The programs will have similar formats, but speakers and topics will vary to fit the respective area. Both begin with registration from 7:30-8 a.m. followed immediately by the programs. The workshops should conclude by 3:30 p.m.
The Sept. 5 program is scheduled on the Kerr Wildlife Management Area near Hunt. The Sept. 12 program is set for the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area near Mason.
Directions to the Kerr Wildlife Management Area can be found at http://bit.ly/1qtW3Pm and to the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area at http://bit.ly/1oeU4LY.
“Thankfully, a large part of the state has been blessed with at least some rain, and reports of quail sightings are trickling in even from areas that have not heard a quail call in years,” said Dr. Jim Cathey, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist and associate department head for the wildlife and fisheries department at Texas A&M University, College Station. “Unfortunately, the big picture concerning wild quail numbers remains critically low, despite the reports.”
Topics common to both programs will include quail ecology and statewide perspective, Texas quail decline and a Texas Quail Index update. The Kerr County meeting will also address Montezuma quail research, while the Mason County program will discuss habitat management at a quail’s scale. Afternoon sessions will feature a demonstration on Quail Index monitoring techniques and habitat management conducted on each of the wildlife management areas.
As participant numbers must be limited to 100 at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area and 75 atthe Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area, early registration is recommended.
The Kerr County program is $10 and includes lunch, while the Mason County program is free, but participants should bring their own lunch.
RSVP in Kerr County by calling Ryan Reitz or Lisa Wolle at 830-238-4483. In Mason County, call Mark Mitchell or Jim Gallagher at 325-347-5037.
These programs are funded through the Reversing the Quail Decline Initiative and the Upland Game Bird Stamp Fund, based on a collaborative effort between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and AgriLife Extension.
For more about the Reversing the Quail Decline Initiative, go to http://wildlife.tamu.edu/quail/ .
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