Conservation Corner: October 7, 2002

Cochran Introduces Bobwhite Quail Initiative
by James L. Cummins

Bobwhite quail populations have been declining at 3.8% per year over the last 3 decades. These population declines have been attributed to the effects of large-scale deterioration of quail habitat quality. Historic quail population levels were a natural by-product of land use and in modern landscapes quail occur only where habitat is created. Restoration of quail populations requires creation and maintenance of early successional plants. Some states have developed specific programs that provide technical and financial assistance and are showing enough success that national attention is needed.

According to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, "Bobwhite quail populations have been significantly declining over the past three decades. I am pleased that the Senate Appropriations Committee has included language, at my request, to establish the Bobwhite Quail Conservation Initiative. I hope this program will help restore quail populations to historic levels."

Bobwhite populations will greatly benefit from this national initiative. Due to the intense interest in quail throughout its range, the Southeast Quail Technical Committee has been formed and charged with developing a national plan for restoration of quail. This plan has set goals of stabilizing populations in 5 years and restoring populations to 1980 levels in 20 years.

This initiative provides technical assistance and cost share to enhance habitat on private lands. It is primarily directed at providing nesting and brood rearing habitats.

This national initiative will be administered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Wildlife Habitat Management Institute (WHMI), which is based in Madison, Mississippi. Each state would develop a plan of quail restoration involving the Bobwhite Quail Conservation Initiative and the WHMI. The WHMI would develop an evaluation process for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of the effort and to make recommendations. Technical assistance on bobwhite habitat management will be provided. Landowners may receive incentive payments for establishing and maintaining specific types of early successional habitats through existing conservation programs. Practices that contribute to the enhancement of quail habitat would be incorporated into existing conservation programs. There will be a research project to monitor and establish success.

Senator Cochran is to be thanked for establishing the Bobwhite Quail Conservation Initiative. It just may be the saving grace of bobwhite quail throughout the South.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi