Kansas Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Announces Summer Workshops
Pheasants Forever 05.23.14
Kansas Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) employees and chapters are pleased to announce their summer slate of upland habitat tours and workshops. Currently, there are 15 workshops or tours planned around the state. These events will be hosted by Pheasants Forever Farm Bill wildlife biologists with the assistance of local and statewide partners—Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Events are scheduled from May-July, so there will be plenty of time for those interested to pick sessions they would like to attend. While all events will relate to how habitat can be managed to benefit gamebirds and why it is necessary, there will be topics tailored to a wide range of conservation and landowner interests. With sessions covering topics ranging from “Landscaping for Pollinators” (geared towards backyard conservationists and youth educators) to a cover crop tour and round-table discussion with Kansas farmers, everyone can find a worthwhile workshop or series to attend. All events and workshops are free and open to public, but some will require an RSVP because of space limitations or dinners being provided. Most will be half of a day or shorter to accommodate our attendees’ busy summer schedules.
Pheasants Forever Farm Bill wildlife biologists are specialized consultants in conservation programs and habitat planning. The purpose of Farm Bill wildlife biologists is to assist landowners in designing, developing, and funding habitat improvements on private lands. Farm Bill wildlife biologists possess the knowledge of federal, state, and local programs to assist landowners in finding the right program to meet their personal habitat and land use goals. Through a unique partnership, Farm Bill wildlife biologists are located in local USDA service centers in priority habitat areas throughout the pheasant range.
For more information, please visit www.kansaspfqf.com or contact Zac Eddy, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s senior Farm Bill wildlife biologist, at (620) 338-7132 or zeddy@pheasantsforever.org. Be sure to inform Zac or the local hosts if you need any accommodations.
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.
