© Timothy Fulbright Current Research 2012–2013 This year’s cover features a photograph of a Bullock’s oriole taken by Dr. Timothy Fulbright. This oriole is one of over 350 species of birds that can be found in South Texas landscapes. Editor Alan M. Fedynich, Ph.D. Reports in this issue of Current Research often represent preliminary analyses, and interpretations may be modified once additional data are collected and examined. Therefore, these reports should not be cited in published or non-published works without the approval of the appropriate investigator. Use of trade names does not infer endorsement of product by TAMUK. December 2013 Report of Current Research September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013 Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Texas A&M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas Dr. Steven H. Tallant Dr. Rex Gandy President Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. G. Allen Rasmussen Dr. Fred C. Bryant Dean, Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg Leroy G. Denman, Jr. Endowed College of Agriculture, Natural Resources Director of Wildlife Research and Human Sciences CKWRI Advisory Board Gus T. Canales David Winfield Killam Barry Coates Roberts T. Dan Friedkin Chris C. Kleberg Stuart W. Stedman Henry R. Hamman* Tio Kleberg Buddy Temple George C. “Tim” Hixon C. Berdon Lawrence Ben F. Vaughan, III Karen Hunke Kenneth E. Leonard Bryan Wagner A. C. “Dick” Jones, IV James A. McAllen Charles A. Williams *Chairman A Member of the Texas A&M University System 1 FOREWORD Wildlife enthusiasts who care We witnessed it again when we decided to place a quail about South Texas are hard to scientist in San Antonio. Dr. Eric Grahmann’s position match when it comes to the main there is supported 100% from Quail Forever in San ingredient of why people care— Antonio, South Texas and San Antonio Chapters of the their passion. Webster’s Dictionary Quail Coalition, and several individuals. Eric’s goal is calls it “an intense, driving feeling to help landowners and foster new quail research in the of conviction,” “a strong devotion counties around Bexar County from Goliad to Pawnee to some activity or concept,” “an to Cotulla to La Pryor to Carrizo Springs. energetic and unflagging pursuit of a just cause.” All of these describe the people who live, visit, or hunt here. Last, but certainly not least, we proudly acknowledge 6 new endowments that were established during the last When we need help, our passionate supporters come 12 months. Those passionate individuals, in whose to our aid. We saw it during the financial crisis of honor endowments were named, appear on page 4 of 2008–2009. Dozens signed up to contribute $5,000 this report. per year as a Caesar Kleberg Partner or $1,000 per year as a Sustaining Contributor. A perfect example came We hope this Christmas Season brings you all of God’s from the family of Lauro and Mary Lou Gutierrez of gifts, including peace, hope, love, and, lest we forget, Zapata County. When we sent out our first plea for help, rain. Lauro and Mary Lou sent their contribution in so fast that it was if they read my mind, placed their check in Sincerely, an envelope, and mailed it to me before my letter ever reached them. And, they continue to give today. 2 SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS Student Scholarships Endowed Student Fellowships Reńe Barrientos Fund for Graduate Student Tuition Sam Walton Fellowship in Quail Research Every graduate student in our program financially Ian Trewella benefitted from this fund. Elliot B. & Adelle Bottom Fellowship in Quail Dan Boone Scholarship - Texas Chapter of the Research Wildlife Society Katherine Miller Eric Grahmann Jess Y. Womack Fellowship in Wetlands and Houston Safari Club Dan L Duncan Wetland Birds Scholarship Program Michael Mitchell Carter Crouch, Cord Eversole, Kory Gann, Nick Kolbe, Dawson Lilly, Chad Parent, Walter Fondren, III Fellowship in Shorebird and Whitney Priesmeyer Wading Bird Research Lianne Koczur South Texas Chapter of the Quail Coalition Scholarships Betty and George Coates Fellowship in Habitat Kara Campbell, Sasha Carvajal-Villarreal, Research Kory Gann, Steven Goertz, Joshua Grace, Joshua Grace Stacy Hines, Nathaniel Huck, Lianne Koczur, Jennifer Korn, Ana Krainyk, Corey Lange, Alice Gertrudis King Kleberg Reynolds Endowed Dawson Lilly, Katherine Miller, Andrew Olsen, Fellowship in Quail Research Chad Parent, Whitney Priesmeyer, Erika Dodd Ian Trewella, Asa Wilson Amanda Whitaker Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship in Wildlife Management Eric Grahmann San Antonio Livestock Exposition Scholarships Kara Campbell, Carter Crouch Houston Livestock Show Wildlife Scholarship Cord Eversole, Kory Gann A. E. Leonard Undergraduate Endowed Scholarship Victoria Haynes Bob and Rebecca Palmer Endowed Scholarships Kory Gann, Nick Kolbe, Jennifer Korn, Chad Parent Phillip M. Plant Endowed Scholarships Stacy Hines, Katherine Miller, Whitney Priesmeyer Students listed above have participated in various CKWRI research studies and their abstracts are presented throughout the Current Research report. We acknowledge the donors of these student scholarships and fellowships on this special page. 3 NEW ENDOWMENTS AND IN MEMORY AND HONOR... New Endowments Dan L Duncan Endowed Director for South Texas Natives and Texas Native Seeds C. Berdon and Rolanette Lawrence Endowed Chair for Waterfowl Research Hixon Fellowships in Deer, Quail and Range Restoration Research Kenneth E. Leonard Fellowship for Livestock-Wildlife Research Boone and Crockett Fellowship in Ungulate Research Grady Cage Memorial Fund for Quail Research In Memory and Honor... Many people choose to send unsolicited gifts in honor of cherished friends or family. We have received memorials and gifts to honor... Tobin Armstrong Frank and Mary Grace Horlock Helen McFarland William A. Bienhorn Christopher Horton John G. Muckleroy Ralph Bingham Col. Sam W. Hoskins, Jr. Josephine Musselman Grady Cage Buddy Jeffers Betty Phillips Michael Corbett Carolyn Jess Tommie Jean Pooley Bond Davis Curt Johnson G. Allen Rasmussen Gaye Davis Simpson Kampman Juan Salinas Dan L Duncan John W. Kelsey Wesley Sayers Ruth Gilliland Neal King Walter Schiel Alfred Glassell, Jr. Tio and Janell Kleberg Frates Seeligson “Slow” Grissom Scott Kneese John Shivers, Jr. Gus Groos Dr. Edward Kozicky Mike S. Stude Rafael A. and Carmen C. Guerra Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Charlotte Jane Lewis Tannehill Annabell Guinn Christine Craft Leggett Randy Toney Eunice Haas Johnny Leslie Steven Valerius Henry Hamman Annett Loyd C. C. “Charlie” Winn Anne Harris Rodolfo Madrid Jess Y. Womack, II Bruce F. Harrison Todd Martin Seymour Wormser Karen Higginbotham Mason L. Matthews, Jr. Tim and Karen Hixon Dick McCampbell, Jr. Our spirits are lifted by these gifts. Please accept our thanks to all of you who support and encourage us. 4 CKWRI PERSONNEL Scientists and Staff Mr. Hank C. Birdsall Dr. Bart M. Ballard, Professor Ms. Andrea Bruno Mrs. Yolanda Ballard, Office Manager Ms. Monika L. Burchette Mrs. Sara K. Barrera, Facilities Specialist Ms. Kara B. Campbell Dr. Leonard A. Brennan, Professor Ms. Sasha Carvajal-Villarreal Dr. Fred C. Bryant, Executive Director Mr. Arturo Caso Ms. Monika L. Burchette, Research Assistant I Mr. John H. Clark Mr. Arturo Caso, Research Associate Ms. Suzanne Contreras Ms. Suzanne Contreras, Research Scientist Mr. Nathan S. Cook Dr. Charles A. DeYoung, Research Scientist Ms. Mylea C. Coston Dr. Randy W. DeYoung, Associate Professor Ms. Brandi L. Crider Mrs. Kim N. Echols, Director, Comanche-Faith Deer Mr. Carter G. Crouch Research Program Mr. Chase R. Currie Mr. Anthony D. Falk, Research and Evaluation Ms. Erika L. Dodd Coordinator, South Texas Natives Program Ms. Michelle C. Downey Dr. Alan M. Fedynich, Professor Mr. John T. Edwards Mrs. Andrea D. Flores de Torres, Grants Compliance Mr. Jeremy W. Edwardson Specialist Mr. Cord B. Eversole Mr. Aaron M. Foley, Research Assistant Mr. Donald J. Folks Dr. Timothy E. Fulbright, Professor Mr. Kory R. Gann Mrs. Venie A. Fulbright, Research Associate Mr. Steven J. Goertz Mr. Delmiro L. Garcia, Facilities Manager Mr. Joshua L. Grace Dr. Eric D. Grahmann, Director, Game Bird Science Mr. Eric D. Grahmann Program Mr. Anthony K. Henehan Dr. Lon I. Grassman, Jr., Research Scientist Ms. Stacy L. Hines Dr. Scott E. Henke, Professor Mr. Nathaniel R. Huck Dr. Fidel Hernández, Professor Ms. Kristan E. Jenschke Dr. David G. Hewitt, Professor Mr. Robert D. Kaiser, III Mrs. Nancy T. Jennings, Coordinator, Special Projects Ms. Holley N. Kline Mrs. Edna G. Kirkpatrick, Administrative Assistant II Ms. Lianne M. Koczur Dr. William P. Kuvlesky, Jr., Professor Ms. Jennifer M. Korn Ms. Celeste Lacy, Research Assistant II Mr. Blaise A. Korzekwa Mr. Thomas M. Langschied, Research Associate Ms. Anastasia I. Krainyk Mr. Mark A. Madrazo, Master Gardener Mr. Corey J. Lange Ms. Mia McCraw, Research Associate Mr. John P. Leonard Mr. Scott L. Mitchell, Research Invasive Grass Specialist Mr. Dawson W. Lilly Mrs. Cynthia L. Montgomery, Accounting Assistant III Ms. Maia L. Lipschutz Mr. Robert Obregon, Research Associate Ms. Karla G. Logan-López Mr. William R. Ocumpaugh, Research Associate Mr. Carlos A. Lopez-Morales Dr. J. Alfonso Ortega-Santos, Professor Ms. Ashley C. McCloughan Mr. Keith A. Pawelek, Assistant Director, South Texas Ms. Katherine S. Miller Natives Program Mr. Michael K. Mitchell Mrs. Annette E. Peterson, Administrative Assistant III Mr. Brent C. Newman Mr. Eric J. Redeker, Research Scientist Mr. Jacob L. Ogdee Mrs. Christyn L. Reopelle, Purchasing Specialist Mr. Masahiro Ohnishi Ms. Stephanie A. Reyes, Purchasing Specialist Mr. Andrew C. Olsen Dr. Sandra Rideout-Hanzak, Assistant Professor Mr. Chad J. Parent Ms. Jessica N. Rogers, Administrative Assistant II, South Ms. Lindsey M. Phillips Texas Natives Program Mr. Marshall B. Pierce Mrs. Selinda A. Rojas, Purchasing Specialist Mr. Ryan M. Piltz Ms. Gina M. Ruiz, Administrative Assistant III Ms. Whitney J. Priesmeyer Mr. Colin S. Shackelford, Research Associate Ms. Johanna M. Prukop Mr. Forrest S. Smith, Director, South Texas Natives Mr. Daniel J.