|
Does Disease Play a Role in Quail Decline? by Dale Rollins Quail season thus far has been disappointing . . . again. Since 2006, quail hunting in the Rolling Plains has been sub-par by Texas standards. Roadside counts at RPQRR were down 72% from 2008. And the dim prospects have hunters, landowners, and at least one wildlife specialist, scratching their heads for an explanation.At the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch we seek to unravel what’s happening to bobwhites and blue quail across much of the Rolling Plains. To that end, we’ve adopted a philosophy of ‘leave no stone unturned.’ So, we’re investigating some heretofore overlooked agents, namely disease and parasites. Several times over the past ten years, hunters and landowners have asked me why an apparently bountiful quail population disappears between Labor Day and opening day (usually about November 1). Could some disease be involved?”
When you say ‘disease’ in the context of wild quail, the most common disease I had three blue quail specimens submitted last spring from Sterling County—one of them tested positive for avian tuberculosis. Whether such findings are important in regulating quail populations is unknown, but intriguing. Recently (Nov. 13 ) we found a radiomarked bobwhite dead, and were able to retrieve it before the carcass was scavenged. It, and two others, were submitted to the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab for post-mortem examination. Results of those tests are pending. I’ve always been intrigued about the possible role of disease in quail dynamics. When you think about it, they offer a perfect biological fuse for disease spread among the population. They are social birds, and when a covey dwindles to less than about six birds, the survivors seek another covey. Blue quail used to be common over areas as far east as Throckmorton, but they disappeared over much of their range in 1988, in December 1988, in my opinion. While hunting in Crockett County that December, I noticed several quail had ‘spotted’ livers, but at the time I didn’t have my antennae up about disease. I took some photographs and discarded the birds. Within months, blue quail had vanished as far west as the Pecos River. I cannot explain such a ‘die-off’ except for some mystery disease. Suffice to say my antennae are up now. Disease surveillance in wild quail is nearly impossible. A sick quail doesn’t go the edge of the road waving a white flag—it retreats to thick cover, and then dies. The odds of finding it before a predator does are remote. But with the radio-marked quail at RPQRR, our odds of finding sick quail are better.
This month as we trap quail for leg-banding and radio telemetry, we’re also A separate research project on eye worms and intestinal parasites was initiated in September in collaboration with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. Preliminary testing from quail collected at RPQRR last winter showed parasite infestations in the eyes, which may be noteworthy. When you’re a bobwhite, you live on the edge as it is; any debilitating factor (like harboring worms under your eyelids) can’t be good news. Quail hunters should be on the lookout for sick quail. Externally, if a quail is markedly light in weight, or if you see green discharge from the vent (anus), it might be noteworthy. As you clean birds, pay special attention to whether the liver has white or yellow nodules in it—these are suggestive of a bacterial infection. Either way, put the bird in a Ziploc bag, refrigerate it, and give me a call as soon as possible (325-653-4576 or 325-776-2615). Cadence call (Conservation cadences from the Bobwhite Brigade)
If it’s done the proper way. 3rd Annual Distinguished Quail Lectureship set for January 29 ROBY, TEXAS--The 3rd annual Distinguished Lectureship in Quail Management will be held in Roby, Texas on January 29, 2010 according to Dr. Dale Rollins, director of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch (RPQRR) located just west of here. Rollins says the program will be of interest to all “students of quail”, whether they be landowners, hunters, or biologists.This year’s featured speaker is Dr. Fred S. Guthery, a research scientist with Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The theme for the conference is “The Science of Quail Management.” “Dr. Guthery literally wrote the book on quail management in the southern plains, actually three books!” Rollins said. “His experiences stem from Texas Tech University to the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute in south Texas, and more recently to Oklahoma.” “Guthery is the quintessential quail scientist. His quail legacy in the scientific literature is without rival” Rollins noted. “His comments may step on some toes—at the very least he will make you re-think what you thought you knew about quail management.” Guthery has authored several books, including “Beef, Brush, and Bobwhites”, “On Bobwhites”, “The Technology of Bobwhite Management”, and his most recent “A Primer on Natural Resource Science.” He has authored more than seventy journal publications and numerous po0pular articles on bobwhites. “When the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch was created in 2007, I wanted to host an annual meeting to showcase leaders in quail management from across the U.S. The past two year’s meetings have drawn standing-room-only crowds. I expect this year’s meeting to be equally as exciting” said Rollins. In addition to Guthery’s lectures, there will also be updates on various research and educational efforts conducted at the RPQRR. The new research ranch, a 4,700-acre property located in western Fisher County serves as a laboratory and classroom for those interested in sustaining quail populations in west Texas. The program is sponsored by Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, Texas Agrilife Research, Texas Agrilife Extension Service’s Quail Decline Initiative, and Park Cities Quail. Registration for the meeting is $15 by January 15, and $25 thereafter and at the door. Seating is limited to 100 people. Registration includes lunch and refreshments. Two CEUs are available for those holding Private Applicator’s licenses. Registration information, and additional details, can be found at http://www.quailresearch.org or by calling 325-653-4576. Forward this message to a friend
|
December 2009 Vol 1. No.2
Can Quail Reduce Your Tax Obligations? Thinking about a last-minute tax-free contribution before Dec. 31? RPQRR is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation; [Click Here] to learn more about giving or visit us @ quailresearch.org
Q: I read an old article about quail hunting in the early 1900s and they referred to “bevies” of quail, not “coveys.” Are these terms synonymous? A: As far as I know “yes”; both are collective nouns used for a group of birds, especially quail.
[Click Here]for a story about field trialing on the RPQRR in 1970.
What’s causing quail decline where you hunt? To participate, [Click Here].
The e-Quail Plant of the month for December is Field Ragweed. Please [Click Here] to read more about Field Ragweed.
By popular demand, a Desert QuailMasters course is scheduled for 2010; [Click Here]. DQM will focus primarily on blue quail management, but will also address Gambel’s and Montezuma (“Mearns”) quails, as well as “bobwhites in the desert.”
RPQRR has 25 “mile markers” at which we conduct whistle counts. Spring cock call counts (listening for the iconic “bob-white” song) are conducted from May-August, while Fall covey call counts (listening for the “koilee” call just before sunrise are conducted in October.
That’s “meanwhile back at the ranch” . . . December activities include surveillance of radiomarked birds, prescribed burning, and discing (we get our best forb response with discing from Nov-Jan).
RPQRR’s Eastern Range Initiative Takes Wing - The Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch has announced a new research effort called the “Eastern Range Initiative.” This project is targeted at involving landowners along a geographical corridor from Waco to Wichita Falls, essentially the current eastern range of bobwhites. Designed to involve landowners in all facets of the research, the project targets areas within the corridor that no longer support viable, sustainable populations of bobwhites. Since September, RPQRR has been recruiting “Research Partners” to participate in the ERI. A companion effort for scaled quail (“Western Range Initiative”) was initiated in October. The Rocoso Ridge Ranch in Bosque County signed on in October as the inaugural Research Partner. During the first year of this project, Research Partners will collect baseline data on quail abundance to provide direction for subsequent research to addresses population and habitat shortcomings. Participating ranches are currently surveying bobwhite populations on their property using early morning covey call counts. For information on the Research Partners effort, please contact Dale Rollins.
If you received this from a friend, [Click Here] to sign up for the RPQRR e-Quail Newletters!
|
mentioned at the coffee shop is coccidiosis. But there are other potential threats, including West Nile Virus, avian influenza, avian cholera, and avian tuberculosis.
collecting samples for disease and parasite testing. We submitted about 200 samples for screening of viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases during November; results are pending. These data will help us better understand whether various diseases are a factor.