Pheasants Forever Names Kerber New Western Nebraska Regional Wildlife Biologist
Pheasants Forever 02.25.13
Kerber Looks to Further Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Habitat Mission
Pheasants Forever (PF) has named Colby Kerber of Broken Bow, Nebraska, as the organization’s new regional wildlife biologist for western Nebraska. Kerber will work at raising and expending funds on wildlife habitat and conservation education, and also with local, state and federal natural resources agencies on behalf of Nebraska Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters.
A native Cornhusker, Kerber grew up on his family farm outside of Battle Creek in northeast Nebraska, where he learned to love the outdoors. After high school, he pursued his passion and attended the University of Nebraska, where he received his B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife.
Kerber worked across Nebraska in various conservation technician positions for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission helping manage public Wildlife Management Areas and also spent a season as an avian influenza surveillance coordinator. He spent the last three years as a Pheasants Forever Farm Bill wildlife biologist in central Nebraska working with landowners to promote and implement conservation programs, prescribed burning, outdoor education and habitat management.
“Experience working for Pheasants Forever as a wildlife biologist and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as a conservation technician has given me a unique perspective on the needs of Nebraska’s outdoors and how Pheasants Forever can help benefit our great state,” says Kerber, “For the past three years with Pheasants Forever, I worked daily to conserve and protect the unique landscapes of Nebraska, and I look forward to continuing this in my new role with the organization.”
“Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters across Nebraska have accomplished some amazing things since the first chapter was formed in Norfolk in 1986,” continued Kerber. “We recently surpassed 10,000 youth going through our Youth Mentor Hunt program and with our great partnerships will soon hit four million acres of habitat impacted in Nebraska. I am excited to be a part of these great accomplishments.”
Pheasants Forever empowers county and local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent – the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. As a result, chapter volunteers are able to see the fruits of their efforts locally, while belonging to a larger national organization with a voice on federal and state conservation policy.
Kerber resides in Broken Bow with his wife Audra and dogs, Buddy and Bailee. In his spare time, Colby can be found chasing big game with his bow and arrow or following the migration of waterfowl across the great state of Nebraska.
This position was previously held by Drew Larsen, who was recently promoted to the new position of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s national habitat education specialist. Kerber will work out of his office in Broken Bow, Nebraska and can be reached at (308) 520-0876 or email Colby.
Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August of 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. Bobwhite population losses over the last 25 years range from 60 to 90 percent across the country. The reason for the quail population plunge is simple - massive losses of habitat suitable for quail. There are five major factors leading to the losses of quail habitat; intensified farming and forestry practices, succession of grassland ecosystems to forests, overwhelming presence of exotic grasses like fescue that choke out wildlife, and urban sprawl.
