California DFG Veteran Volunteers Expertise for State’s Pheasants and Quail

Pheasants Forever, Inc. has named Dan Connelly of Granite Bay as its state coordinator in California. Connelly, formerly of the California Department of Fish and Game, will serve in a volunteer capacity as the national nonprofit conservation organization’s primary contact in California, which is home to six Pheasants Forever (PF) chapters, one Quail Forever (QF) chapter and over 1,000 combined PF/QF members.

Connelly will spearhead the organization’s efforts to expand and increase membership, and participate on California’s Upland Game Bird Advisory Committee and associated upland game bird habitat programs. Connelly will also foster relationships with volunteers, supporters, state agencies, and other private and federal partners with a mutual desire to improve wildlife habitat and awareness of pheasant and quail conservation efforts.

“Dan has great experience in wildlife conservation within the state of California, and we could not be happier that he is applying his skills and time to move Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s habitat mission forward. If you are someone who wants to make a difference for pheasant and quail populations, you should really get in contact with Dan,” stated Matt Holland, senior field coordinator with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, “We will need motivated and purpose driven advocates to grow our impact in California.”

Connelly had a 27-year career with the California Department of Fish and Game, where he was the Senior Wildlife Biologist supervising waterfowl, upland game and game bird heritage programs. He also spent seven years as the Valley Bay CARE Coordinator for Ducks Unlimited. Connelly earned a B.S. in Wildlife Management from the University of Nevada, Reno. He resides in Granite Bay, California, and can be reached at (702) 606-6775 / Email Dan.

For more information regarding Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever in California, please contact Matt Holland at (320) 354-4377 / Email Matt.

Pheasants Forever

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.