Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: James Jackson, 325-453-2461, JamesR.Jackson@ag.tamu.edu
ROBERT LEE – The Texas AgriLife Extension Service office in Coke County is conducting a Quail Appreciation Day from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 14 on the Wildcat Mountain Ranch near Robert Lee.
“The loss of native quail over the last decade has reached alarming proportions,” said James Jackson, AgriLife Extension agent in Coke County. “The whole idea behind this program is to try and help people save what few birds are left.
“The agenda will lean heavily on proper quail habitat, what it is and how to obtain it. We’ll tour the ranch to see firsthand what the speakers are recommending. We’ll also hear from experts trying to stem the decline. All in all, it should be an excellent time to learn how to best save America’s favorite game bird populations in West Texas.”
The morning program’s presentation topics will include: Scoring Quail Habitat, Quail Research Updates, Operation Idiopathic Decline, Bobwhite Brigade presentation and a quail necropsy.
The afternoon portion will consist of a ranch tour highlighted by the ranch manager’s goals and followed by travel to these three stops:
– Stop 1: Softball Habitat Evaluation Technique, Estimating Quail Abundance by Call Count and Key Plants for Quail.
– Stop 2: Assessing Quail Nesting Cover Through the Use of Dummy Nests, Interpreting Nest Depredation Evidence and Assessing Predator Trends.
– Stop 3: Rangeland Recovery Following Wildfire-Operation Phoenix.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available for those with a valid private applicator’s license.
Individual preregistration is $15 by Sept. 10 and $20 thereafter. The fee includes a noon meal.
For more information and to preregister, call the AgriLife Extension office in Coke County at 325-453-2461.
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