The newest issue of the RPQRR e-Quail Newsletter includes Dale Rollins' story, "Natural mortality— through a quail’s eyes," an update on research, brood reports and spring whistle counts.

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and other leaders in the sportsman-conservation community commended the U.S. Senate for its vote giving final passage to the Farm Bill, the wide-ranging legislation that represents the largest federal investment in agricultural and private lands conservation in the nation. Read more about the Farm Bill here.

The annual meeting of the National Bobwhite Technical Committee (NBTC) is August 7-10 at the MCM Elégante Hotel in Abilene, TX. And for the first time, professional wildlife biologists can claim up to 26 hours for The Wildlife Society (TWS) certification/continuing education credits, according to a TWS ruling Wednesday. TWS is the entity that provides professional certification in the wildlife field.

“The TWS ruling on professional development is an added incentive for biologists and wildlife managers to attend the annual meeting … and for their employers to let them,” said NBTC Steering Committee Chair Dan Figert, who is assistant director of wildlife for the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources. “And we want to thank the staff of the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI) who made and followed through on the proposal. This is the one opportunity each year that everyone involved in the range-wide effort to restore wild quail have to talk, exchange ideas and experiences, so it’s important to have quail coordinators and others in attendance.”

Comprised of representatives of state wildlife management agencies, research institutions and private conservation groups, the NBTC conducts an annual meeting, usually in August. While updates on quail management and research efforts are presented, the meeting primarily provides committee and subcommittee members the opportunity to discuss and take action on various quail-related issues.

Early registration is $200, $250 after July 16. Voting members must be dues-paying wildlife professionals with a minimum of a B.S. degree in wildlife or related science, or employed in a full-time capacity in a quail management position by a state or federal agency, recognized conservation group, or private company. Other individuals may associate with the NBTC and be included on the mailing list by payment of annual dues if they have an interest in the conservation and welfare of wild bobwhite quail. Annual dues are $15.

For NBTC annual meeting registration and accommodations information, please visit http://www.texas-wildlife.org/resources/events/national-bobwhite-technical-committee. For more information on the NBTC, please visit http://bringbackbobwhites.org/about-us/nbtc.

Headquartered at the University of Tennessee, NBCI is an initiative of the National Bobwhite Technical Committee (NBTC) to elevate bobwhite quail recovery from an individual state-by-state proposition to a range-wide, policy-level leadership endeavor. The committee is comprised of representatives of state fish and wildlife agencies, academic research institutions and private  conservation organizations. NBCI is funded by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, two dozen state wildlife management agencies, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

"Bobwhite quail are accustomed to moving on short notice. They bunch up in tight groups called coveys, and upon sensing danger, explode into flight in all directions. Except for those special places, quail just rent space short term. It’s not by choice — their homes get wrecked, the weather becomes unfavorable or the neighborhood goes bad thanks to unwanted guests, and it’s time to hit the road again..." Read more of Steve Lightfoot's fascinating analysis of bobwhite quail in Texas in Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine.