Posted 11:51 pm Thursday, February 02, 2012
Biologists Need Sick Quail For Study
Wildlife biologists are looking for a few good, well, actually sick or dead quail.
As part of a $2 million study into declining Texas bobwhite quail, biologists are asking late season hunters to be on the lookout for birds they can study for disease.
“We’re asking hunters to let us know of any strange-acting quail or, better yet, of any carcasses they come across or sick birds they’ve found,” said Dr. Dale Rollins, Texas AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist at San Angelo.
As part of a $2 million study into declining Texas bobwhite quail, biologists are asking late season hunters to be on the lookout for birds they can study for disease.
“We’re asking hunters to let us know of any strange-acting quail or, better yet, of any carcasses they come across or sick birds they’ve found,” said Dr. Dale Rollins, Texas AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist at San Angelo.
The Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch study led by Rollins is called Operation Idiopathic Decline. It’s a comprehensive study of quail diseases and parasites that may be factors involved in the birds’ decline. It is a joint effort between Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Rollins asks that anyone finding dead quail put them in individual plastic freezer bags, refrigerate them and contact him for further instructions at 325-653-4576 or d-rollins@tamu.edu.
Rollins asks that anyone finding dead quail put them in individual plastic freezer bags, refrigerate them and contact him for further instructions at 325-653-4576 or d-rollins@tamu.edu.
