RPQRF e-Quail Newsletter (August 2025 V17N8)

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The Power of Continuous Habitat for Wild Quail
by Dr. Ryan O’Shaughnessy

The Rolling Plains remain one of Texas’ last refuges for wild bobwhite and scaled quail, yet even our strongholds aren’t immune to fragmentation. Over the past century, much of the region’s prairie‑shrub mosaic has been converted to Bermudagrass pastures, monoculture crops and fenced brush clearings. These changes have turned formerly contiguous quail habitat into isolated “islands,” which scientists call habitat fragmentation.

Fragmentation reduces the size and increases the isolation of remaining habitat patches. For bobwhites, the consequences include higher predation risk, reduced immigration and gene flow, smaller coveys and greater susceptibility to local extinction. Data from Georgia’s Bobwhite Quail Initiative show that landscapes with large, closely spaced habitat fragments support much higher quail densities than landscapes with small, widely separated patches. Similar patterns have been observed in the Rolling Plains: researchers at Texas A&M–Kingsville found that scaled quail will roam over miles of contiguous habitat but avoid crossing non‑native grasslands more than 200 yards wide. Even seemingly suitable 300‑acre patches remained unoccupied if they were isolated from larger parcels. This explains why some historic ranches that once teemed with quail are now devoid of quail despite active management.

How much habitat is needed? Oklahoma State University biologists note that viable bobwhite populations require large tracts—around 5,000 contiguous acres—because small “islands” of habitat (e.g., 160 acres) surrounded by poor habitat are not viable. In Louisiana, translocation guidelines developed for the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative recommend creating at least 600 hectares (≈1,500 acres) of suitable, connected habitat before bringing in birds. These benchmarks underscore that restoring habitat adjacent to existing strongholds is more effective than creating isolated patches.

What about moving birds? Translocation can jump‑start extirpated populations, but it is not a panacea. The Louisiana recovery plan warns that habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation must be addressed first. Recent Tall Timbers research notes that successful translocation requires far more than “moving birds”—landowners must commit to prescribed fire, timber management and predator control, and even then, the natural response of local quail often renders translocation unnecessary. There is still uncertainty regarding the minimum number of quail needed to establish a viable population, how many acres are adequate and how to define success. Each property differs in habitat quality, predator pressure and landscape context, so a one‑size‑fits‑all prescription doesn’t exist.

For landowners and managers in the Rolling Plains, the take‑home message is clear: prioritize habitat restoration that expands or links existing quail strongholds. Work with neighbors to create contiguous grassland‑forb complexes and use hedgerows or rights‑of‑way as corridors. Maintain native shrub corridors, avoid planting wide strips of non‑native grasses that act as barriers and integrate prescribed fire and grazing to keep habitats diverse. By focusing efforts near current quail nuclei, we can strengthen metapopulations and reduce the need for risky, costly translocation.

Figure 1:  The Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch can be seen in the image surrounded by row-crop agriculture.

Holy Quail, That Is a Lot of Birds by Mitchell Riggs

We’ve wrapped up our spring call counts for the year at the Research Ranch. Surveys began in mid-May and concluded in early July. Heading into spring, I had some concerns due to limited rainfall from December through March. Fortunately, April brought much-needed moisture—though it also came with hail, which likely caused some bird losses. Since then, the rain has continued steadily, and we’ve already received over 15 inches this year. For comparison, we hadn’t yet hit the 10-inch mark by this time last year.

Our spring surveys included 25 listening stations (mile markers), with 16 surveys conducted at each location—for a total of 400 surveys. We averaged 7.3 birds per stop and 92 total calls per station. These results closely resemble those recorded in 2016, a year often remembered as one of the best in recent memory. So far, the numbers are encouraging and suggest that the spring conditions were more favorable than initially expected.

The consistent rainfall has also spurred a flush of vegetation growth, which should provide critical cover for birds, especially as raptor migration peaks later this fall.

Considering the solid rainfall, decent carryover from last season, and the abundance of habitat cover, we’re cautiously optimistic about the prospects for a strong 2025–2026 hunting season. That said, nature has a way of keeping us on our toes, and we’ll continue monitoring conditions closely. We’ll keep you updated through the summer and fall as we complete additional surveys leading up to hunting season.

Call for 3-Minute Thesis Abstracts

The Statewide Quail Symposium will be held September 17-19, 2025 in Abilene, Texas. We are looking for students to submit abstracts for the “3-Minute Theses” (3MT) competition for a chance to win 2 – $500 cash prizes! The deadline to submit is August 15, 2025.

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. Cash prizes are being sponsored by the Texas Wildlife Association.

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

Administering QuailGuard®: Recommended Protocol for Landowners by Dr. Dan Foley

Following the July 2025 issue of the newsletter, we received numerous questions regarding how to use the medicated feed. Feeding quail is no different than feeding deer, it’s a personal choice and a management option that you choose to implement on your property. Feeding deer or quail, can be expensive, time consuming and labor intensive, it can also be hard to measure success (how many more fawns or inches of antler did I produce by feeding protein or how many more quail).

QuailGuard^® has emerged as the first FDA-approved medicated feed specifically designed to protect wild bobwhite quail populations in the United States. Its active ingredient, fenbendazole, is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic medication commonly used in the livestock industry to control internal parasites such as roundworms, lungworms, and tapeworms. QuailGuard^® with fenbendazole targets two specific roundworms — eyeworms (Oxyspirura petrowi) and cecal worms (Aulonocephalus pennula).

Correct Administration of QuailGuard

QuailGuard^® is formulated as a medicated crumble, therefore proper delivery is essential. The feed must be protected from both moisture and sunlight. Exposure to moisture will cause the crumble to clump together, clogging feeders, preventing the feed from free flowing. Additionally, prolonged expose to sunlight can denature the active ingredient, fenbendazole. Accordingly, the FDA-approved method specifies that the product must be provided through carefully placed feeding stations, rather than broadcast openly. At these feeding stations, a specifically designed feeder, which keeps the feed covered and off the ground, is essential. Manufactures such as Quail Safe^® (https://www.quailsafe.com/) and All Seasons Feeders^® (https://www.allseasonsfeeders.com/) have engineered feeders to meet these requirements. Such “quail specific” feeders ensure only quail sized critters have access to the feed, minimizing consumption by other non-target wildlife.

Recommended Feeding Schedule

Landowners should administer QuailGuard^® during two separate 21-day treatment cycles annually to effectively interrupt parasite transmission:

• Spring Cycle: Begin feeding between March 1 and May 1, ideally as early as conditions allow, to lower parasite burdens before the critical nesting season.
• Fall Cycle: Begin feeding between August 1 and October 1, preparing quail populations for winter by significantly reducing parasite loads.

Feed continuously for 21 days in each feeder without interruption. Typically, a single 50-pound bag per feeder is sufficient, delivering approximately 1,080 daily quail servings based on an average daily intake of 15-20 grams per bird.

Optimal Feeder Density

Quail feeders should be strategically distributed at a recommended density of one feeder per 200 acres. Adjustments to feeder density can be made based on local habitat quality, population density, and terrain conditions.

Post-Treatment Nutritional Management

Immediately following each 21-day medicated cycle, landowners may wish to continue supplemental feeding by transitioning quail to the non-medicated formulation called QuailSafe^® (the same nutritionally complete product as QuailGuard^® minus fenbendazole) or other feeds such as milo, wheat, cracked corn. Providing supplemental feed year-round, particularly during periods of weather anomalies (i.e. drought, blizzards, ice storms) or food scarcity, has demonstrated improved quail survival and breeding success. If continuous feeding is impractical or unnecessary, approximately 4-6 weeks before scheduled deployment of QuailGuard^® feeders should be receive one 50-pound bag of pretreatment feed (milo, wheat, cracked corn, QuailSafe^®) to condition quail to reliably use feeders, enhancing the effectiveness of subsequent treatment cycles.

For more information on QuailGuard, please visit the website: https://quailguard.com/

Staying Ahead of Mesquite by Kyndall Underwood

Mesquite encroachment is a persistent issue for landowners, particularly around roads, fences, livestock pens, and other vital infrastructure. One of the most practical and cost-effective ways to manage small mesquite regrowth in these areas is through basal bark or cut-stump treatments using a mixture of Remedy Ultra herbicide and diesel or basal bark oil. This method has long been favored by land managers for its precision and reliability—especially on younger mesquites.

Getting started is simple. You’ll need a sprayer—backpack, handheld, or ATV-mounted—along with diesel fuel (which acts as a carrier) and basic personal protective equipment like gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection. For basal bark treatments, your mixture should be ¼ Remedy Ultra with 3/4 diesel (example: 1 gallon Remedy + 3 gallons of diesel) and stir thoroughly. To apply, spray the lower 12 to 15 inches of the trunk, ensuring full coverage around the entire base without causing runoff. This technique is best suited for mesquites with stems under 4 inches in diameter and has smooth bark. For cut-stump treatments, simply cut the tree as close to the ground as possible and immediately treat the cut edge of the stump (the cambium layer) with the same mixture to prevent resprouting.

These treatments work best during the growing season, when the plant is actively transporting nutrients, but can be done anytime of the year. Avoid applying when temps are above 80 degrees if working near desirable plants—Remedy can volatilize (disperse as a vapor) in high heat, potentially damaging nearby sensitive species like oaks and cottonwoods.

Overall, this method offers several key advantages: it’s affordable, Remedy doesn’t require an applicator’s license to purchase, and it allows you to be selective of the trees you want to kill. However, diesel can be messy to work with and hard on your spray equipment, and herbicide volatility can be a concern during hot temperatures.

If you’re looking for an efficient and effective strategy to stay ahead of mesquite invasion on a small scale—this approach offers a reliable solution. As with any herbicide application, be sure to follow label directions, wear the proper safety gear, and apply responsibly.
 

Dr. Dale on Quail Podcast

Join Dr. Dale and his special guest Jay Stine as they highlight the “form and function” of Quail Coalition (QC). QC has become a juggernaut in raising funds for quail conservation. These dogs will hunt!

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]).

By the Numbers

7.3 – average number of quail heard calling during spring call counts at RPQRR

5.16 – inches of rain received during July at RPQRR

15.58 – inches of rain year-to-date at RPQRR

From Our Facebook Page by Dana Wright

The Facebook post of the month goes to a post where we asked for your quail brood reports and we heard some great reports from around Texas and the Country! We received reports of quail from Illinois to S. Texas. Counties seeing broods included: Lubbock, Jones, Fisher, Stonewall, Shackelford, Hall, Tom Green, Runnels, Knox, Coke, Haskell, Llano, Cottle, DeWitt, Coleman and Eastland Counties of Texas and Beckham County, OK. We also heard a couple of reports of blue quail spotted in Stonewall County. The folks in Coleman, Shackelford and Eastland Counties were really excited about what they were seeing. Some people exclaimed that they were hearing and seeing quail where they hadn’t been in years.
We hope the favorable weather continues throughout the summer and we can’t wait to see what the hunting season brings. 

Quail Technician’s Most Dreaded Moment by Dana Wright

A Quail Technician’s life is full of hard work, long days, and unpredictable challenges. From extreme weather to endless walking through thick brush, you’re constantly surrounded by things that will stick you, sting you, or bite you. But among all the hazards, there’s one that always gets the heart rate up: rattlesnakes. And at the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, there’s no shortage of them.

Picture this: you’re holding an aluminum antenna and carrying a receiver, listening intently for the rhythmic beeping of a VHF transmitter to locate a quail. The signal leads you into dense underbrush. You think you’ve found your bird—but something feels off. Then you hear it—the unmistakable buzz of a rattlesnake.

He’s warning you to back off. But you investigate anyway. It turns out, the signal isn’t coming from a hidden quail. It’s coming from inside the snake.

The $250 transmitter had been swallowed, along with the scaled quail wearing it. The rattlesnake was humanely euthanized, and the transmitter was recovered. It will be refurbished and redeployed on another quail in the fall.

As for the snake? He became supper for the tech crew. Some had never tried rattlesnake before- they will have stories to tell their friends and family.

Statewide Quail Symposium

Covey up! It’s been two years since the last Statewide Quail Symposium was held in Abilene.  This biennial event brings together quail enthusiasts who are eager to get updates on all things related to quail.  The conference will bring quail experts together to discuss quail management, research updates, hunting and quail conservation. The symposium is open to anyone with an interest in quail, including landowners, land managers, hunters, students and naturalists. 

The event kicks off on September 17 with a tour of the Rio 42 Ranch located approximately 40 miles NE of Abilene near Lueders, TX. Charter buses will be provided to take participants to and from the Abilene Convention Center to the Ranch.

The ranch tour will showcase habitat management practices that have been implemented to benefit quail and other wildlife species.  Participants will see and discuss management techniques used on the property to optimize habitat for quail and work on plant identification skills with experts while out in the field.

Participants will convene at the Abilene Convention Center on September 18-19 for presentations from leading experts on quail management and research. Sessions will cover everything from hunting gear and technology to resources for landowners to improve and maintain habitat for quail. Notable speakers will include Texas Land Commission Dawn Buckingham, Texas Parks & Wildlife Upland Game Bird Program Leader Patrick Schulz and leading quail researchers from universities such as Texas Tech, Sul Ross and the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute.

Participants are encouraged to take advantage of discounted early registration by signing up before September 4 (online) for $100 or $125 after the deadline. Students will enjoy further discounted rates of $75 for early registration or $100 after deadline.

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.

Dates to Remember

August 14, 2025 – South Texas Quail Short Course – Kingsville, TX

August 23, 2025 – South Texas Quail Coalition Dinner & Auction – Robstown, TX

August 27, 2025 – San Antonio Quail Coalition Dinner & Auction

September 17-19, 2025 – Statewide Quail Symposium – Abilene, TX

October 15, 2025 – Houston Quail Coalition Dinner & Auction

October 17, 2025 – Upland Game Bird Landowner Workshop – Childress, TX

October 31, 2025 – Cows & Critters Landowner Workshop – Matador Wildlife Management Area, Paducah, TX

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Rotan, TX. 79546

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