Tennessee Quail Forever Chapters Volunteer Funds for Two Wildlife Biologists
Quail Forever 03.07.13
Biologists will work to bring back state gamebird – the bobwhite quail
Quail Forever (QF) is proud to announce Tennessee is conducting interviews for two Quail Forever Farm Bill wildlife biologists. The first of their kind in the state, these biologists will work with area landowners to help reestablish quail populations through conservation practices.
Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever’s Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist program is designed to educate farmers and landowners about the benefits of conservation programs, as well as assist those landowners after programs have been implemented. Pheasants Forever first employed Farm Bill wildlife biologists in 2003 with four positions and now has over 100 partnership positions across the country. In 2012, PF & QF Farm Bill wildlife biologists made 21,600 landowner contacts, resulting in 656,702 acres of wildlife habitat improvement.
“All of the Tennessee Quail Forever chapters donated funding and time towards the creation of these biologists, so we are glad to see our goal come to fruition. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has done a wonderful job to bring back deer, turkey and bear, and now it’s time to really make a difference for our state gamebird – the bobwhite quail,” notes Ron Crabtree, vice president of the Music City Quail Forever chapter and wildlife and conservation advocate. “At one time, quail hunting was as much a tradition in the South as NASCAR and SEC football, and we’re looking forward to bringing that back.”
“These positions would not have been possible without the participation of Tennessee’s Quail Forever chapters, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and others coming together and recognizing the need for employees who are trained to help with the region’s wildlife, keeping a special emphasis on bobwhite quail,” says Tim Caughran, Quail Forever regional wildlife biologist. “Furthermore, I am looking forward to what these biologists will accomplish for Tennessee’s wildlife.”
Farm Bill wildlife biologists work to accelerate enrollment in the suite of U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Bill conservation programs. Farm Bill wildlife biologists add wildlife technical assistance in USDA offices to assist the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA) and other conservation partners with delivering conservation programs to landowners. Funding for these positions are made possible from state wildlife agencies, USDA-NRCS, local Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters, soil and water conservation districts, foundations, and other state and local partners.
Tennessee is home to nine Quail Forever chapters and over 1,000 combined PF/QF members. For more information on “The Habitat Organization” or to start a chapter, please contact Tim Caughran at (618) 467-2586 or email Tim.
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.
