Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Dale Rollins, 325-653-4576, d-rollins@tamu.edu
ROBY – The Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch’s fifth annual field day is set from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 28 at the ranch, which is 11 miles west of Roby on U.S. Highway 180, or just east of the intersection of Farm-to-Market 611 and U.S. Highway 180.
“Our theme for this year is ‘useable space,’ which essentially means how much of one’s land is habitable for a quail 365 days a year,” said Dr. Dale Rollins, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist at San Angelo and the ranch’s director.
“Quail numbers have shown some rebound this summer despite the dry, hot weather. Our topics for this year’s field day will help managers accelerate the recovery of quail on their property.”
“Now in our fifth year of work here at RPQRR, we’ll discuss how we use the data collected from whistle counts and helicopter surveys to detect where our ‘holes’ are in the ranch’s useable space, and how we hope to mitigate these deficiencies through active management.”
Some of the day’s topics will include creating quail oases with spreader dams, quail “storm shelters” for evading raptors, Bobwhite Brigade and enhancing useable space on post-Conservation Reserve Program fields.
The field day is being conducted by the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension.
Two Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered.
Individual preregistration is $10 prior to Sept. 21 and $20 thereafter and at the door. Registration includes a catered lunch, refreshments and handout materials.
For more information or to preregister, contact Mary Lynn Nelms at 325-653-4576 or ml-nelms@tamu.edu .
See the ranch’s website at http://www.quailresearch.org for program updates.
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