RPQRR’s comprehensive study of quail diseases, initiated last August (2011) has already made some initial, and intriguing, findings of high numbers of two parasitic worms. See the details at Operation Idiopathic Decline Project Overview.

Other OID Resources:

Operation Idiopathic Decline (OID) Summary

2011 RPQRR Field Day Report

RPQRR e-Quail Newsletter V3N5

RPQRR e-Quail Newsletter V3N9

RPQRR e-Quail Newsletter V3N12

RPQRR e-Quail Newsletter V4N2

RPQRR seeks sick quail reports from hunters (e-Quail News Flash)

Parasitic Worms Found in Texas bobwhites

ROBY, Texas—Poor-bob-white! Parasitic worms in the eyes and intestines of bobwhite quail have been found at record high levels in Texas bobwhites according to an ongoing research project. And, while researchers caution that their results are preliminary, early findings suggest the worms could be impairing the quail’s ability to thrive as it historically has across west Texas. Click to download Quail Parasites found at Record-High Levels in west Texas According to New Research Project

Watch this new video on how you can identify eyeworms in quail; see How to Check for Eyeworms in Quail

Bobwhite Genome Project

RPQRR bobwhite to play lead role in future DNA efforts. “Patty Marie” a bobwhite hen collected in July 2011 from the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, leads the way as the type-specimen for a groundbreaking project called the “Bobwhite Genome Project.” See Bobwhite Genome Project: An Overview for more details about how genomics (“the bobwhite’s DNA roadmap”) could figure into the future of quail conservation.

Oklahoma Wildlife Department Joins the Fight

Oklahoma Wildlife Department is embarking on an intensive, long-term research project on two northwest Oklahoma wildlife management areas to study quail reproductive success and mortality. The Department is also teaming up with a group of partners to conduct an extensive research project that covers a broad portion of the bobwhite quail’s North American range. See Upland Urgency

Park City Quail News:

Park Cities Quail bags another record!!  Dallas-based Park Cities Quail www.parkcities.org continuers to be the wind under RPQRR’s wings via their continued support.  While the final tally of last Thursday night’s 6th annual banquet won’t be available for a few days, they set an attendance record of 1,000 “friends of quail”.  Over the past five yeaes, PCQ has donated $1.7 million for RPQRR’s research efforts, and it looks like this year’s event will permit even more support!

PCQ News Releases:

Bobwhite Genome Project

A fervor for hunting birds and helping them (March 4, 2012), Article Credits: Ray Sasser

RPQRR in the News:

Leaning on Science for some answers (January 26, 2012), Article Credits: Ray Sasser

Diseases may be culprits in quail losses (Februaury 11, 2012), Article Credits: Bill Miller

Parasites are prime suspects in quail decline (February 12, 2012), Article Credits: Ray Sasser

Puzzling decline (February 26, 2012), Article Credits: Ray Sasser

Flight risk (March 27, 2012) Article Credits: Ray Sasser