Chickasawhatchee WMA Promotes Bring Back Bobwhites
ALBANY, Ga. – Join wildlife biologists for a free Fall Field Day to explore the ongoing quail habitat restoration efforts at Chickasawhatchee Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Albany, Georgia. This event, scheduled for Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. and sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), also will give participants the opportunity to gather information about enhancing quail habitat on their own property.
Named the official State of Georgia Gamebird in 1970, the bobwhite quail provides a thrilling experience for hunters. However, due to extensive changes in Georgia’s landscape over the last 80+ years the quail population has declined drastically, and consequently so have the number of quail hunters.
The good news is there is growing interest in quail restoration. Through the Bobwhite Quail Initiative (BQI), WRD biologists work with landowners to help restore habitat for quail, songbirds and other grass-forb-shrub dependent wildlife species on private lands.
Special Fall Field Day Event Scheduled: Limited Spots Available
Interested landowners and others are welcome to attend the upcoming Fall Field Day at Chickasawhatchee WMA, scheduled for Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. Topics will include: quail habitat restoration and management, prescribed fire, pine thinning, hardwood removal, and predator control. Landowners also can find out what financial assistance opportunities are available to assist with habitat restoration efforts on their property.
Spaces for the Fall Field Day are limited, so call to register soon. Contact Brad Alexander (229-495-6529 or brad.alexander@dnr.ga.gov) to register.
More About BQI
The goal of the BQI program is to work with enough landowners and even facilitate formation of “landowner cooperatives” so that large blocks of habitat will be managed to provide suitable habitat for quail. This will improve the quail population response to habitat management and ultimately improve quail hunting.
The benefits of quail habitat restoration can impact more than hunters. Improving habitat for quail also means improved habitat for many species of wildlife that use this habitat type and it could help rural economies by attracting hunters and potentially provide an opportunity for quail hunting leases.
Learn more about managing your land for quail, BQI and how to support quail restoration efforts in Georgia at www.gohuntgeorgia.com/bobwhite-quail or contact State Quail Coordinator Paul Grimes (478-258-0380 or paul.grimes@dnr.ga.gov).
