New Quail Forever Chapter Hatches in Tulsa Metro Area
Quail Forever 06.25.14
Tall Grass Heritage Quail Forever chapter meets Thursday, June 26th in Jenks
Quail hunters and conservationists in the Tulsa, Okla. area have formed the newest Quail Forever chapter in the state. The group, known as the Tall Grass Heritage Quail Forever chapter, becomes the fourth active Quail Forever chapter in the state and the second new chapter to form there this month, part of a resurgent effort led by volunteers to conserve quail habitat and improve the state’s bobwhite quail population.
“Rare is the person who doesn’t want to hear the whistle of the bobwhite quail more regularly in the Oklahoma countryside,” says Lee Francis, a Collinsville resident and the chapter’s newly-elected president, “The bobwhite is part of Oklahoma’s identity, and through upland habitat work, we can ensure the whistle is heard for generations to come.”
The Tall Grass Heritage Quail Forever’s chapter’s name pays homage to the tallgrass prairie, grasslands that once spanned parts of 14 states, including Oklahoma. While mere remnants remain, Francis says it’s important to conserve what’s left, improve existing habitat and create new grassland acres where possible. “Where we have grasslands, we have bobwhite quail.”
Like all Quail Forever chapters nationwide, the Tall Grass Heritage Quail Forever chapter will utilize Quail Forever’s signature fundraising model. Unique among national conservation organizations, Quail Forever chapters are empowered with 100 percent control over the funds they raise at banquets and other events. This allows chapters to direct their funds to complete upland habitat projects and host youth conservation events in their areas.
“It’s so exciting to see folks get on board this train to help our bobwhite quail,” says Laura McIver, Quail Forever’s regional representative in Oklahoma, “Tulsa is a great place to get a chapter going, with more than 300 past and present Quail Forever members to draw on for support, and we hope even more as we establish our conservation footprint.”
Tulsa Tall Grass Heritage Quail Forever chapter:
- The chapter has also elected Jeannette Eiden of Broken Arrow as treasurer, Keith Lindsay of Broken Arrow as vice president and Roy Loris of Jenks as youth/education chair.
- The chapter’s next meeting is Thursday, June 26th at 7 pm at the Reasor’s Foods meeting room in Jenks, Okla. Those with an interest in joining the chapter or learning more about the group’s mission are invited to attend.
- For more information, visit the chapter’s Facebook page and contact Lee Francis at (918) 371-4525 / email.
Quail Forever in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is home to four Quail Forever chapters. For more information about Quail Forever in the state, to join a chapter or inquire about starting a chapter, contact Laura McIver at (907) 750-2600 / email.
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.
