15Th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Quail Study Group
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Page 1 Proceedings from the Joint Meeting of Southeast Quail Study Group & Southeast Partners in Flight March 24-26, 2009 - Columbia, SC additional changes to the bylaws will Contents National Bobwhite Technical Committee Chairman’s Message: occur at the next meeting of the NBTC SEQSG Honors Stan Stewart .... 2 which will take place August 3-6, 2010 The Southeast Quail Study Group was in Wichita, Kansas. PIF Honors Laurel Barnhill ........ 3 started in 1995 by a dedicated group This change is entirely positive for the State Reports of quail biologists assembled to address the problem of the declining bobwhite group, for the NBCI, and for bobwhite Alabama ................................ 5 population in the Southeast. Since that conservation. A part of me is sad Arkansas ................................ 6 time, the Southeast Quail Study Group to see the passing of the Southeast Quail Study Group, but in reality our Florida ................................... 8 has grown in size and stature, and is now recognized as the national voice of membership, reach, and influence Georgia ........................ .........9 the bobwhite. The strength of the Group has been broader than the Southeast Illinois ...... ..................... ......13 has always been unity of purpose of for a number of years. Those of us who were a part of the formation Indiana. ............................... 15 the membership and the ability to form collaborative partnerships to achieve of the Southeast Quail Study Group Iowa .................................... 19 common goals. The 2009 Joint Meeting in 1995 and all members can take Kansas ................................. 21 of the Southeast Quail Study Group pride in knowing that we are part of a group that has remained true to its Kentucky ............................... 27 and the Partners in Flight Southeastern Working Group represents a original purpose and goals, and is Louisiana .............................. 28 continuation and strengthening of a now expanding to become an even Mississippi ............................ 28 long-standing, productive partnership bigger and more powerful force in between the two groups. bobwhite conservation. As the National Missouri Dept. of Conservation Bobwhite Technical Committee, we will Strategic Guidance for Northern During the Southeast Quail Study maintain our focused, problem-solving Bobwhite Recovery ................ 32 Group Business Meeting at the Joint approach to bobwhite conservation and a working group format for our Missouri ............................... 40 SEQSG/SEPIF meeting, the SEQSG Membership voted unanimously to annual meetings. North Carolina ..................... 43 change the name of the Group to Oklahoma ............................ 45 the National Bobwhite Technical I would like to thank our meeting sponsors and the many volunteers from South Carolina ...................... 46 Committee (NBTC). The process of pursuing a name change for the Group both groups who worked diligently and Tennessee ............................. 48 started in 2007 and culminated in tirelessly to make the meeting a success. Virginia ................................ 52 the vote held on March 26, 2009. I also want to thank each of you for Concurrent with the revision and your participation in the 2009 Joint Poster Papers/ Presentations .. 54 expansion of the NBCI, the broadening SEQSG/SEPIF Meeting. Committee Reports/Minutes of the SEQSG to include all states in I hope to see you in Wichita in August, SEQSG Steering Committee ... 84 the historical range of bobwhites will strengthen our collective efforts and 2010! Defining NBCI Success ........... 88 influence on bobwhite conservation. Ag Policy Committee ............. 88 Sincerely, Billy Dukes, Chairman Forestry Committee ................ 89 With the name change numerous other changes to the group will occur, National Bobwhite Technical Committee Grazing & Grasslands ........... 89 some major and some relatively minor. PRIE Committee ..................... 90 Substantive changes to the group Research Committee .............. 91 bylaws took place immediately with completion of the vote. Revised bylaws SEQSG Business Meeting ...... 92 will be posted soon on the website and Page 2 Southeast Quail Study Group Honors Stan Stewart Stan Stewart, Alabama Department of landowner forums throughout Conservation and Natural Resources, Alabama. received the 2009 Southeast Quail Study Group (SEQSG) Annual Award In addition to his field for his contributions to the knowledge work, Stewart has written and management of bobwhite quail in extensively about quail and the Southeast. Mr. Stewart was honored land management. His 2005 with the award at the SEQSG's annual publication, Ecology and meeting, the first to be held jointly Management of the Bobwhite with Southeast Partners in Flight, in Quail in Alabama, serves as Columbia, South Carolina on March a guidebook for landowners 25, 2009. who want to increase the "It is an honor to receive this award number of quail on their from such a dedicated group of property. The publication professionals, who know bobwhite provides information on conservation is about more than just quail taxonomy, distribution, quail, but also about a quality of life history and status, habitat that we don't want to see disappear," requirements, habitat Stewart said. "Without a doubt this is a management, predation and highlight of my career." predator management and hunting. Stewart has also Stewart has a Masters Degree in been published in Quail Wildlife Science from Auburn University Unlimited Magazine, Covey and a Bachelors Degree in Wildlife Rise, and Alabama's Treasured Forests Biology from the University of Georgia. among other publications. He is certified by The Wildlife Society, a professional non-profit scientific and "Stan is a very knowledgeable quail educational association dedicated to biologist who understands the little excellence in wildlife stewardship. subtleties in habitat management that can make a big difference to quail Since starting his career with the population," said Corky Pugh, ADCNR Alabama Department of Conservation Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Division Director. "His passion for quail in1981, Stewart has worked diligently epitomizes the commitment shown by toward the restoration of quail so many of our employees to their given population and habitat improvement field." in Alabama. Stewart has served as an Administrative Staff Wildlife Biologist In a nomination letter to the SEQSG in Montgomery since 1990. Prior to Awards Committee, Billy Dukes, Montgomery, Stewart was stationed at Chairman of the Southeast Quail Study the Covington Wildlife Management Group, praises Stewart as a, "Muddy Area (now the Geneva State Forest). boots biologist, who represent one of the passionate and unsung heroes Stewart was instrumental in the of quail management and habitat formation of the Alabama Quail restoration." Council and has worked closely with the Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit to stimulate applied quail research in the state. An active member of the SEQSG Forestry Committee since its inception in 1995, Stewart has also been a featured speaker at several quail workshops and Page 3 2008 PIF Leadership Award is given to Laurel Moore Barnhill Each year, Partners in Flight presents awards to those individuals, groups or organizations that have made ex- ceptional contributions to the field of landbird conservation. Awardees are recognized in one of four categories: Leadership, Investigations, Land Stew- ardship, and Public Awareness. The leadership award honors an individual or group that demonstrates outstanding guidance and direction that contributes, or has contributed to, advancing PIF conservation efforts. This award recognizes Laurel Moore Barnhill’s tireless leadership in build- ing multiple partnerships among state, regional, and national bird conserva- tion efforts. She has served as a voice for state-level issues and on-the-ground conservation in groups ranging in scale Laurel Moore Barnhill in center. Photo was taken at the North from Joint Ventures to multi-national American Conference by USFWS. committees. Laurel has also been an integral part in bringing together the game and nongame bird conservation community, both in the state-level and multi-state conservation projects. As a state biologist who is actively involved in regional and national groups, Laurel has been able to effectively integrate conservation efforts across multiple scales and administrative boundaries to ensure that sparse conservation funds have been used wisely. Page 4 State Reports Page 5 State Report will benefit a number of declining wildlife restore native grassland habitats for rare, Alabama species including the bobwhite. A longleaf threatened, and declining species that are pine restoration project is underway on dependent on native prairie communities the Barbour Wildlife Management Area in within the Blackland Prairie region of Submitted by: Stan Stewart, Alabama southeast Alabama to restore a longleaf Alabama and Mississippi. The objective is to Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries pine-bluestem community to benefit enroll 5,000 acres within three years. Sign- Bobwhite Population Status bobwhites and other species dependent on up in Alabama began in June, 2008. fire-maintained habitats. A longleaf pine Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Alabama breeding bobwhite populations renovation project is in progress on the Fred have declined by