As part of the recently-implemented “Tennessee Northern Bobwhite Quail Restoration Plan” a third person has been added as a Quail Forever farm bill wildlife biologist in the state.
David Peters joins the Quail Forever staff. He will work closely with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency staff on the plan to help bring back the bobwhite quail population which has seen its numbers decline over the past several decades. His primary area of responsibility will be in TWRA Region III, which includes one of the four quail focus Wildlife Management Areas, the Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial WMA.
“We are excited to bring on David as our third Quail Forever farm bill wildlife biologist in Tennessee,” said Mark Gudlin, assistant chief of TWRA’s Wildlife and Forestry Division. “Our current Farm Bill staff in West Tennessee is doing great work with landowners and Quail Forever chapters to create habitat on the ground.
“David will be targeting the promotion of bobwhite habitat, shortleaf pine and stream buffers that benefit both aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. He will work closely with local TWRA biologist Michael McCord to reach and assist more landowners in developing and managing habitat to increase populations of bobwhites, rabbits and other wildlife.”
The TWRA designated four of its wildlife management areas to serve as “anchors” within a quail focus area. Along with the Bridgestone/Firestone in White County, the other three are spread across the state. They include Wolf River WMA (Fayette County), Bark Camp Barrens WMA (Coffee County), and Lick Creek Bottoms (Greene County).
The anchor areas act as permanent reserves where wildlife management efforts are focused on maximizing ideal habitat and conditions to foster a healthy and prolific quail population. As the quail population increases, it should expand out into the surrounding focus area if suitable habitat exists. The focus area is made up of private and other public lands that have the potential to hold suitable quail habitat.
Quail Forever is a national non-profit organization, comprised of local chapters, dedicated to the protection and enhancement of quail and other wildlife.
Landowners interested in improving their lands for quail and other wildlife should contact one of TWRA’s four private lands biologists or one of the three Quail Forever biologists. These biologists will meet with landowners or managers and develop a free habitat management plan and provide other advice, such as programs that can provide financial assistance. Contact information for these biologists and other natural resources professionals can be found for each of the state’s 95 counties at www.TWRAprivatelands.org , or by calling the TWRA.