“Quail populations cannot be
restored by one person or with
traditional quail research. Rather,
we must think outside of the box
and work together to implement
solutions that put more wild
birds on the ground.”
The North Texas Land Scholars program connects
high school youth of all backgrounds (including urban
and minority) to nature, and furthers their scientific
literacy and land stewardship skills by engaging them
in conservation projects and career opportunities in
conservation and land management.
Through annual field days and summer camp, the North
Texas Land Scholars program focuses on three pillars of
education:
• Communication – Learning to professionally convey
scientific information to the public;
• Conservation – Protecting and enhancing natural
resources; and
• Entrepreneurship – Gaining career experience in
conservation and land management.
— Kelly Reyna
Director of UNT Quail
Ultimately, the North Texas Land Scholars program
will educate youth on the value of natural resources
and how they can become leaders and entrepreneurs
of the land, carrying on the land legacy of Texas.
Quail and grassland conservation cannot happen without
the generous donations from people, like you, who
care about these issues most. To make a difference in
America’s greatest gamebird and improve the quality
of Texas grasslands, support UNT Quail by making a
secure online gift at www.quail.unt.edu.
For information on ways you can support UNT Quail
contact: Kelly Reyna at [email protected].
Mailing Address: 1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton,
TX 76203-5017 Phone: 940.565.4287
Web: www.quail.unt.edu www.facebook.com/UNTQuail
UNT QUAIL
North Texas Land Scholars
UNT QUAIL
America’s greatest gamebird, the northern bobwhite
has long been important to Texas culture, ecology, and
economics. Their popularity has decreased very little over
time; yet bobwhite populations have declined 80 percent
since 1967. Habitat loss, modified land-use, and harsh
climate top the list of suspects, although other factors play
an increasingly important role in fragmented populations.
“
UNT Quail is a quail research and
landowner extension program whose
mission is to restore quail populations
to peak levels by developing and
implementing solutions that best
combat quail threats.
“
UNT Quail is working with landowners to establish the
largest corridor of contiguous quail habitat in the state
of Texas. It will support sustainable quail populations
and eliminate habitat loss, allowing research to focus
on identifying and eliminating other detrimental factors.
UNT Quail also educates landowners, policy makers,
and future generations on the ecological and economic
importance of sustainable quail populations.
Simply put, we are working together, with you, to create
wildlife corridors and healthy rangelands, contributing to
thriving quail populations, a healthy Texas environment,
and the continuation of Texas’ hunting heritage.
•
Quail Corridor Initiative
Research
The North Texas Quail Corridor Initiative works
to establish corridors of quail habitat to support
thriving quail populations in healthy rangelands.
UNT Quail implements research solutions that put
more wild birds on the ground and investigates
the best ways to combat quail threats. Listed below
are a few of the UNT Quail projects.
Quail thrive in large populations spread over
thousands of acres. As habitat becomes fragmented,
smaller populations form which are more susceptible to
malicious factors. UNT Quail is working cooperatively
with landowners to reverse fragmentation by
establishing corridors of contiguous quail habitat. As
each corridor expands, larger populations of quail can
be supported; thus contributing to their sustainability.
Each partnering ranch will receive:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Annual Ranch Report
Annual Population Monitoring
Research and Field Day Opportunities
Consultation and Recommendations
Custom Habitat Evaluation
Farm Bill Information
• North Texas Quail Corridor Initiative – UNT Quail
is establishing the largest corridor of quail habitat in
Texas. Research centers on identifying and eliminating
detrimental factors to quail and the response of quail
to increased usable space.
• Heat and Drought – Texas bobwhites are often
exposed to extreme heat. Laboratory experiments
are analyzing heat stress factors that affect bobwhite
reproduction, embryonic health, and juvenile survival.
• Bobwhite Genetics and Archeology – UNT Quail
is investigating ancient and current bobwhite genetics
to determine how factors have influenced genetic
structure over time.
• Beef and Bobwhites – UNT Quail is partnering
with beef producers, evaluating the utility of the
cattle as a tool for habitat management, the impact of
grazing regimes on grassland bird populations, and
the ecosystem service responses.
• Disease – Often overlooked, UNT Quail is
investigating the increasingly important role of disease,
pests, and parasites on fragmented quail populations.
• Habitat and Population Restoration – UNT Quail
is working with private ranches and public lands, like
the LBJ National Grasslands and the Lake Lewisville
Environmental Learning Area (LLELA), to restore
degraded habitat and decimated quail populations.
“Providing solutions to restore and enhance Texas quail.”