By: Steve Byrns


Effort is part of statewide Reversing the Quail Decline Initiative



Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu

Contact: Dr. James Cathey, 979-845-7471, jccathey@tamu.edu



COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has added two new quail management apps to their growing tally of electronic resources for tech-savvy wildlife managers.


New apps aim to turn the tide in the quail decline. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo)

“These apps are free and tailored to iPhone, iPad and iTouch users,” said Dr. Jim Cathey, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist and associate department head for the wildlife and fisheries department at Texas A&M University, College Station.

The apps are:

–Northern Bobwhite Management Calendar, https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/northern-bobwhite-management/id903580244?mt=8

– Northern Bobwhite Habitat Evaluation, https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/northern-bobwhite-habitat/id903595892?mt=8

“Northern bobwhite populations have been declining for decades due to a combination of factors, the most important being the loss of useable habitat,”Cathey said. “Proper and active land management that benefits quail could help reverse the decline. The Northern Bobwhite Management Calendar app offers instructions on habitat management practices and population census techniques through monthly recommendations. The recommendations focus on enhancing habitat and understanding quail populations and predator management.”

Cathey said the Northern Bobwhite Habitat Evaluation app centers around quail-friendly plant species specific to Central and West Texas, though the tool also features habitat evaluation techniques beneficial for other regions as well.

“This app allows the user to quickly and easily assess their property’s habitat condition through a series of in-field questions,” Cathey said. “The app calculates a habitat quality score based on the user’s input and provides recommendations for improving habitat beneficial for northern bobwhite.”

Cathey said the apps were developed through the Reversing the Quail Decline Initiative and the Upland Game Bird Stamp Fund, a collaborative effort between AgriLife Extension and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

All AgriLife Extension’s wildlife and fisheries smartphone apps are available at, http://wildlife.tamu.edu/mobile-apps/ .

For more about the Reversing the Quail Decline Initiative, go to http://wildlife.tamu.edu/quail/ .

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