Research, Conservation, and Education Updates | February 2025

This month, we have news about an exciting Quail Expansion Program project to restore wild quail to Ames Plantation in western Tennessee, a master's student's project re-evaluating snake ecology at Tall Timbers 20 years after the foundational study was done and a look at the year-round process of bobwhite quail management that can help them get through the winter.

We are also excited to open registration for our 18th Annual Georgia-Florida Turkey Invitational in April and remind you of the rescheduled date for the Covey Film Festival at Tall Timbers on February 18. While you're here, take a look through photos from the 130th Continental Field Trial at Livingston Place in January.

Lastly, we'd like to thank everyone who joined us for the reception and auction in Camden, South Carolina last week. We had a fantastic turnout for the inaugural event to support expanded outreach and assistance to restore wild quail in the Carolinas and have a photo gallery to explore below.

As always, feel free to share any questions, comments, or feedback.  Enjoy.

Project partnerships set to restore wild bobwhite to Tennessee's Ames Plantation

Bobwhite quail and other wildlife will benefit from a new partnership centered at Ames Plantation in Grand Junction, Tennessee, home of the National Championship field trial for bird dogs. The 6,000-acre quail field trial course on Ames will serves as a demonstration site and will be actively managed with various techniques, including prescribed fire to restore the plants and conditions quail need to thrive.

This project is a collaboration between Ames, Tall Timbers, University of Tennessee, the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Quail Forever, and passionate private donors.        

Study revisiting snake ecology at Tall Timbers providing insight into species abundance, disease

Twenty years ago, the snake population at Tall Timbers looked much different. But a masters student in the Biological Monitoring offices is revisiting these snake populations to assess and understand how changes in habitat affect abundance and diversity and look for pathogens.

Winter quail survival is a year-round consideration

Wintery weather can have a big impact on quail, including their ability to survive if snow and ice persist in places where it isn't common. The 2024/2025 winter was usually harsh in the Southeast but to give birds the best chance to thrive, considering cold weather takes year-round dedication.

Smoke management and air quality in Quail Country

Tall Timbers is working with the Georgia Forestry Commission and other partners to implement "Pilot 2.0" a project to help manage smoke and improve air quality while also maintaining the use of prescribed fire in Southwest Georgia.

Looking back at the Camden, South Carolina reception and auction

More than 300 people in Camden joined us for our first event in the region. Their support benefits the Tall Timbers Carolina Regional Quail Program and furthers the mission to work with landowners and other conservation partners to establish 100,000 new acres of wild quail lands in the Carolinas by 2026.

Thank you to everyone who attended, our sponsors and our Host Committee –Tom Ewing, David Gantt, Elizabeth Griffin, Scott Griffin, Beaver Hardy, Charlotte Hodge, Tom Mullikin and Lewis Thompson –for helping make our first event in South Carolina a success.

Photo gallery: 130th Continental Field Trial

The 130th running of the Continental Field Trial was held at Livingston Place in late January. This fantastic event was hosted by Tall Timbers and the Continental Field Trial Club and continues decades of history testing the skills of dogs to locate wild quail. See a gallery from the event by local photographer Chris Mathan.

Join us for the 18th Annual Georgia-Florida Turkey Invitational. Register today and mark your calendars for this fantastic event.

MAILING LIST INFORMATION

If you want to let us know what content you are most interested in seeing from Tall Timbers, you can now use the "Update Profile" link at the bottom of this message to click on your preferred topics. We will keep you on our general list too for basic news and events updates.



Did a friend forward you this message? If you are not already on our email list, please consider joining the thousands of conservation minded readers receiving our free news and publications. Join Our Mailing List.