Bobwhite quail Photo Credit: leshoward (Flickr)
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Texas Parks and Wildlife joins other groups on a mission to restore the state’s quail population. Texas Public Radio’s Eileen Pace reports.
August 30, 2010 · When Zack Ezer first hunted quail, it seemed there were plenty for the taking. These days, finding quail isn’t as easy.
“They used to see, on average, about 20 to 30 coveys in South Texas in a hunt, and now they’re only seeing about 12 to 15. So it’s actually been cut about in half,” Ezer said.
Bobwhite quail numbers have been declining for 100 years, but recently there’s been a dramatic decline -- 75 percent since 1970.
“Development is one issue. Lack of fire is another issue and the introduction of all these exotic grasses, like Bermuda and Bahia, is another one,” said Robert Perez with Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Perez said it will take public involvement to restore the quail population. More prescribed burns and specific grazing are recommended to maintain grassy areas.
“And, of course ,Texas is a privately-owned state. There’s no way any kind of restoration can occur in Texas without the buy-in of our citizens,” Perez added.
The third annual Field Day is set for October 1. Ezer, who works with hunters as a representative of the Ahern Group, says this year’s theme is “Axe, Plow, Cow, Fire, and Gun as Tools in Quail Management." |
