RPQRF e-Quail Newsletter (July 2025 V17N7)

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Promising Results from QuailGuard Pilot Study in the Rolling Plains
by Dr. Ryan O’Shaughnessy

The 2024/2025 quail hunting season marked a significant step forward in understanding parasite dynamics in wild bobwhite populations, thanks to a collaborative study between the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation (RPQRF) and Park Cities Quail Coalition. As part of this pilot initiative, parasite assessments were conducted on hunter-harvested quail from across the Rolling Plains Ecoregion, focusing on two common and impactful parasites: eyeworms and cecal worms.

Samples were submitted from 24 ranches, totaling nearly 400 birds examined for parasitic infection. Among these ranches, 8 had implemented the use of QuailGuard—a medicated feed designed to reduce internal parasite loads—starting in late fall 2024. Although these ranches had only undergone a single treatment cycle, the preliminary results offer encouraging insights.

Across the entire ecoregion, the average prevalence of eyeworms in bobwhite quail was recorded at 80.2%. Adult birds exhibited an average intensity of 15 eyeworms per bird, while juveniles averaged 6. Cecal worms showed an even higher prevalence: 93.5% of quail were infected, with adults harboring an average of 182 worms and juveniles 125.

However, when partitioned by treatment, a downward trend in parasite loads emerged among birds from QuailGuard-fed ranches. Eyeworm intensity declined from 9.15 worms per bird on non-medicated properties to 6.84 on medicated ones.

 Similarly, cecal worm intensity dropped from 153.48 to 119.95 worms per bird. Though not statistically significant due to sample size, these findings suggest a biological effect worth deeper exploration.

One particularly informative case came from a single ranch where both medicated and non-medicated feed areas existed side-by-side. Quail harvested from the medicated area showed dramatically lower parasite burdens—averaging 4 eyeworms and 186.17 cecal worms per bird—compared to 15.64 and 305.45, respectively, in the non-medicated pastures.

While the pilot data from fall 2024 showed promising early effects of medicated feed, the Snipes Ranch in Stonewall County offers a compelling long-term perspective. After seven consecutive years of administering QuailGuard, the intensity of parasite infection on this property has dropped markedly. Eyeworm counts averaged just 2.94 per bird, and cecal worm counts averaged 51.51—both significantly lower than the regional averages of 15 and 182, respectively. These results suggest that long-term implementation of medicated feeding can yield sustained reductions in parasite load.

 
Despite the lack of statistical significance in the data at this point, we are cautiously optimistic QuailGuard may be efficacious in reducing parasite loads in wild quail.  More robust data is needed to draw definitive conclusions, but this pilot effort suggests that even a single season of medicated feeding can result in a measurable reduction in parasite load. However, as researchers we still need to determine if reductions in parasite loads in quail translate into positive trends in life history traits, such as increased reproductive rates and survival. 

Recognizing the importance of these initial findings, RPQRF has launched a long-term study to further evaluate QuailGuard efficacy. This expanded research effort will incorporate larger sample sizes, controlled replication, and multi-year monitoring, with an anticipated conclusion in 2028.

Thanks to the Park Cities Quail Coalition’s funding and the participation of dedicated landowners, RPQRF continues to build the scientific foundation needed to support adaptive, informed quail conservation across Texas. With parasite management emerging as a key component of wild quail stewardship, this could become another tool in the broader effort to sustain and restore bobwhite populations across the Rolling Plains and beyond.

Call for Presentations and 3-Minute Thesis Abstracts

The Statewide Quail Symposium will be held September 17-19, 2025 in Abilene, Texas. We are looking for researchers to submit abstracts for presentations and “3-Minute Theses” (3MT) from graduate students for the symposium. Abstract submission is NOW OPEN! The deadline to submit is August 1, 2025; notice of acceptance will be sent by August 15.

We will only accept 10 abstracts for these presentations. Three Minute Thesis is a research communication competition that challenges students to make an impactful 3-minute presentation on their research topic and its significance. Students who participate develop academic, presentation, and research communication skills and the ability to explain their research to a non-academic audience. We will have an award for the winning 3MT presentation.

Abstracts should be submitted digitally as a Word document to: [email protected]

Any questions pertaining to abstract submission should be directed to: [email protected] or [email protected]

RPQRF Headquarters gets some “Curb Appeal”!

Staff at the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch recently completed some updates that included (1) a new gate entrance and (2) landscaping around the headquarters building. Our facilities welcome hundreds of people each year—they come to do research, tour the property and learn about quail and habitat management. We kept the landscaping around the headquarters conservation-minded, it will use zero water and the lizards love it. Welcome to the ranch! Special thanks to the RPQRR crew and Josh Ray for helping with project.

The Hidden Threat from the Sky: Impact of Hailstorms on Quail Populations by Dr. Dan Foley

Each year across the Rolling Plains, quail populations face a range of environmental challenges—but one of the most destructive and often overlooked are hailstorms. While spring and summer rains are always welcomed for their role in rejuvenating habitat, hailstorms can bring localized devastation to quail, particularly during their most vulnerable reproductive and brooding periods.

When storms strike during the day, quail may be foraging in open areas, sometimes without adequate overhead cover.  Even though they may attempt to flee or hunker down in protective vegetation, their exposure can still result in lethal injuries from hailstones—especially those over an inch in diameter. Chicks with their reduced mobility rely on adults for warmth and shelter and are especially at risk of being killed outright or dying from exposure in the aftermath of a hailstorm.

The risks can be even greater when hailstorms strike at night. Quail roost on the ground in grasses and weeds without much overhead woody cover. This strategy allows them to flush easily if disturbed while roosting, but also leaves them vulnerable to being pummeled by hailstones.  Nesting hens that remain on the nest are particularly susceptible, often found dead after shielding their eggs. Their fidelity to the nest and inability to seek cover at night may result in high mortality rates during nocturnal hail events.

The Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch experienced such an event at ~11:30 pm on April 4th. Hailstones the size of ping-pong balls were recorded  on the Research Ranch. At the time, 72 quail were being monitored with VHF radio collars. The following morning 8 collared quail were found dead, presumably bludgeoned by the nighttime hail storm (i.e, dead quail were not dismembered by a predation event). Accordingly, this single event killed 11% of our radio-collared birds.

Did our population experience a similar fate ranch-wide? In the month prior, extensive trapping indicated that the Research Ranch’s quail population was approximately 1,788 birds. Extrapolation suggests that approximately 196 quail (1788 x .11) in total may have been killed by this storm. While it’s impossible to confirm this assertion, no dead unmarked quail were happened upon in the days following the storm, predators likely consumed any dead quail in a matter of days. Regardless, it seems likely dozens (maybe hundreds) of quail perished during this storm on the Research Ranch.

Beyond the immediate trauma to adult birds and broods, hailstorms can cause substantial destruction to nests. Eggs may be directly crushed or damaged, or rendered nonviable due to exposure and chilling. Hens that survive may attempt to re-nest, but the production of a second clutch demands significant energy reserves.

Although hailstorms are an uncontrollable force of nature, there are strategies that land managers can adopt to mitigate their impacts. Maintaining a diverse range of vegetation structures across the landscape increases the chances that quail will find effective cover during sudden weather events. Pricklypear cactus may provide functional “storm shelters.” Promoting habitat mosaics with varying grazing intensities and preserving pockets of desirable shrubs and pricklypear may offer refuge during storms and allow for quicker recovery afterward.

Leaf-Spray Method: Effective Foliar Treatment for Mesquite Control by Kyndall Underwood
 

The leaf-spray, or high-volume foliar spray method, is ideal for treating mesquites that are less than 8 feet tall and have multiple stems at ground level. This technique works best in the Summer—beginning when mesquite leaves transition from light green to dark green and continuing through September. It is important to allow any mesquite previously top-killed by fire, cutting, mechanical means, or herbicide to regrow for 2 full growing seasons before applying this method, as new growth must be well-established for effective uptake.

To get started, choose the appropriate sprayer for your property size and terrain. If you have just a few trees to spray, a pump-up garden sprayer may be sufficient. If you plan to treat quite a few mesquites, then you will want to use a backpack sprayer or ATV/UTV mounted sprayers, especially when plants are widely-spaced. Regardless of the equipment, ensure your sprayer has an adjustable-cone nozzle capable of producing a coarse spray that can reach the top of mesquite plants up to 8-foot tall.

When deciding which plants to target, and equally important which to leave, you need to picture what the site will look like in the next 10+ years. If it’s next to your ranch road, will it be scratching your pickup truck or is it in an area where you already have adequate cover for quail and just want to maintain the current shrub density? If so, spray those trees—it is much easier and cheaper to control small mesquites now, than come back in 10+ years with an excavator or dozer. Alternatively, if shrub cover is lacking, leave that (those) tree (s) and let them mature.

We use Sendero™—it does not require an applicator’s license to purchase and is available at most farm stores. The recommended spray mixture includes Sendero herbicide at a 1% concentration in water, along with a nonionic surfactant (e.g., Dawn dishwashing soap) to ensure thorough foliage coverage. Adding spray-marking dye can help identify treated plants and improve efficiency. As a general guide, a 3-gallon tank requires 4 oz. of Sendero, 1 oz. of surfactant, and 1–2 oz. of dye; a 14-gallon tank needs 18 oz. of Sendero, 5 oz. of surfactant, and 5–9 oz. of dye; and a 25-gallon tank would take 32 oz. of Sendero, 8 oz. of surfactant, and 8–16 oz. of dye. Begin spraying once soil temperatures at a 12–18-inch depth reach 75°F+ and foliage is dark green. Thoroughly wet all the mesquite leaves to the point just before runoff or dripping for best results, which may yield 76–100% root kill.

To ensure success, avoid spraying under less-than-ideal conditions. Don’t apply herbicide if mesquite leaves are wet, damaged by hail, insects, or disease, or if recent rains have caused a flush of new, light green growth. Additionally, avoid spraying upwind of desirable vegetation such as trees, shrubs, or crops. Keep in mind that the cost of treatment rises quickly as mesquite density and plant size increase. Mesquites aren’t all bad at an acceptable density (<30% canopy for quail), but they can quickly get out-of-hand. Finally, remember that mesquite control is not a one-time job. Regular monitoring and follow-up treatments are necessary to manage regrowth and keep your property in good condition.

Dr. Dale on Quail Podcast: Wildlife Habitat Federation Offers Boots on the Ground Technical Guidance

Technical assistance for quail managers comes in many forms. Some “talk a good game” while others deliver the goods. Join Dr. Dale and his special guest Garry Stephens, CEO of Wildlife Habitat Federation, as they dissect the “form & function” of conservation delivery.

For previous sessions, see www.quailresearch.org/resources.  Thanks to Gary Joiner at Texas Farm Bureau, Jonathan Vail (Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation) for his technical expertise, Jeffrey SoRelle with RPQRF for logistical assistance, and Gordy & Sons of Houston for funding. If you have a suggestion for an interesting interviewee, please e-mail Dr. Rollins ([email protected]).

From Our Facebook Page by Dana Wright

The Facebook post of the month goes to a post featuring “how much hail can a quail take?” posted on June 13^th. Be sure to check it out and read Dr. Foley’s article above to find the answer to that question.  Hail can be hard on everything from insects to birds and even the vegetation! In the aftermath of the storm, I stepped outside and heard quail calling all around me. Were they checking on their friends, looking for life or rejoicing in the moisture received? No doubt it killed birds, I found dead dove and mockingbird chicks in my yard, but also observed quail chicks the next day running around and found another brood in the path of destruction that same week. They must’ve have found a nice storm shelter! 

Statewide Quail Symposium Planning Underway!

Registration is now open for the 2025 Statewide Quail Symposium! The symposium will be held in Abilene, Texas at the Abilene Convention Center September 17-19, 2025.

You may register for the Symposium at: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/rpqrf/event/2025statewidequailsymposium/
 
Hotel Room Block Reservations can be made at: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/abidtdt-92g-bfd5fa55-371a-48f0-b052-02150fa1f22c/
 
Check here for Quail Symposium Updates, including full agenda when it becomes available: https://www.quailresearch.org/events/symposium/ (excuse the mess, this page is under construction)
 
If you are interested in being a sponsor for the Statewide Quail Symposium, please contact us about sponsorship opportunities. There are opportunities to sponsor meals, refreshments, the social, charter buses for the field tour, plant ID contest, 3-Minute Thesis Contest, door prizes, silent auction items, swag for everyone who registers and so much more. Great opportunity to get your name and logo out there supporting quail conservation! Contact Ryan O’Shaughnessy or Dana Wright for more information.

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