Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation

06/19/2026

THIS is the biggest threat to wild quail, they ARE a GRASSLAND bird! Get control of your brush!

06/19/2026

Plant of the Week is Hog Potato, a native perennial that goes by several common names, including mesquite w**d and rush pea.

Hog potato is commonly found throughout the Rolling Plains, especially along hard, dry roadsides where few other plants can thrive. Despite the tough conditions, it is an extremely hardy species. It produces small yellow flowers that are sticky to the touch and often appear orange because dust and dirt cling to them.🌻

The plant also produces seed pods containing 6–8 seeds that can provide a food source for birds and other wildlife.🐦

Its name "hog potato" comes from the underground tubers it produces. Feral hogs 🐷are known to root up these plants in search of the tubers. Its other common name, "mesquite w**d," comes from its appearance—it often looks like a miniature mesquite tree standing only about 6-10 inches tall.

06/18/2026

QuailMasters Session 2 in Hebbronville was a great success! While we got a little wet from the rain, you'll never hear quail folks complain about a good shower. 🌧️🐦
🎓Participants spent the session immersed in all things quail, including plant identification, seed collection, quail anatomy, habitat evaluation, food habits, and much more. The hands-on learning and field experiences continue to make QuailMasters a unique opportunity for anyone interested in quail management.🌻

A special thank you to our Session 2 sponsors, South Texas Quail Coalition and Rob Porter, for generously providing meals for our students. We would also like to thank Ekdahl Real Estate, Comprehensive Land Management, Park Cities Quail and Hargrove Ranch & Crop Insurance for providing door prizes.

Your support helps make this program possible and is an investment in the future of quail conservation.👏

06/17/2026

Prescribed fire is an important tool for quail management!

🔥🌲Reduces Woody Plant Encroachment
🔥🌻Increases Native Forbs
🔥🐥 Improves Brood-Rearing Habitat
🔥🌾Creates Diverse Vegetation Structure
🔥🌼🌿Improves Plant Diversity

In short: Fire doesn't just benefit quail—it helps restore the healthy, diverse grassland ecosystems that bobwhites evolved with and depend upon for survival. 🔥🐦

🔥 Prescribed Fire Field Day 🔥
Learn from experts about prescribed fire, wildlife ecology, burning laws, rangeland management, and more!

📅 Friday, July 10th, 2026
📍 Matador Wildlife Management Area, Paducah, TX
⏰ Registration 8:30–9:00 AM | Program begins at 9:00 AM
🍽 Lunch Included
💲 $10

The registration deadline is July 7th.
Participants can earn 6 Continuing Fire Training (CFT) credits.

Registration Link: https://events.quailforever.org/events/matador-wma-rx-fire-field-day/438b97c6-2d5e-408b-a4d8-6cb2c3f01f14

06/09/2026

This bobwhite isn't lacking confidence!💪

📸Drew McEachern, one of our first quail technicians (2007) at RPQRR sent us this video of a male Bobwhite chasing several Scaled Quail around, making it clear that he wasn't interested in sharing space with any potential rivals. Despite being smaller than the scaled quail he was pursuing, this little guy had plenty of attitude and wasn't afraid to defend what he considered his territory. 😃

For a bird that weighs less than half a pound, a bobwhite can certainly act like he owns the place! 🤠

Who's the boss at your house?😂

06/08/2026

A landowner in Cottle County took this picture, we believe it is a Lark Sparrow's nest 🪺. The nest is sitting on the ground, but notice the mud tubes around the nest? This is the work of desert termites. The termites encase dry vegetation with mud and then start breaking down/consuming the vegetation inside the tubes.

Maybe the mama bird will feed those termites to her babies once they hatch! Convenient meal!🐣😅

Lark sparrows benefit from the same type of habitat components that bobwhites enjoy, open native grasslands with a low-density of shrubs.🎋🌻

06/05/2026

📣Quail Coalition Raffle for a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 ZR2 Diesel 🛻

Special fundraiser benefiting the Quail Coalition! One lucky ticket holder will drive away in a brand-new 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 ZR2 4WD Diesel with a sticker price of $99,194.

The Quail Coalition and it's chapters support research, habitat management projects and education that benefit quail! Help support their mission and we think YOU would look cool 😎 driving this truck! 🛻

🎟 Only 500 tickets will be sold
💲 $250 per ticket
🚙 One winner takes home the truck

Purchase as many tickets as you'd like using this link 👉https://muradbid.com/app/public/bidapp/quailcoalition/auction

Once all 500 tickets have been sold, Quail Coalition will host a live online drawing on the Quail Coalition page. All ticket holders will be notified in advance so you can tune in and watch the winner be selected live.

⚠️ Winner is responsible for applicable taxes, title, and license fees.

Don't miss your chance to own this incredible truck and support the future of quail conservation. Purchase your tickets today!

06/05/2026

🌱 **Plant of the Week: Green Sprangletop** 🌱

This week's featured plant is **Green Sprangletop**, a native perennial grass that can be found growing on a variety of soil types in Texas.

Green Sprangletop is preferred by livestock as forage. While deer and most wildlife make limited use of it as forage, it does provide valuable cover for quail and other wildlife species.

Because it germinates quickly and is relatively easy to establish, Green Sprangletop is commonly included in native grassland restoration and reseeding projects. It often emerges early, helping stabilize bare ground and provide cover for slower-establishing native grasses and forbs.🌻

Proper grazing management is important to maintain healthy stands of Green Sprangletop and ensure it continues to provide forage and wildlife benefits.🐦

Have you noticed Green Sprangletop growing on your property this year?

06/05/2026

🐣 First Quail Hatch of the Season! 🐣

Today we documented our first quail hatch! The quail chicks waste no time leaving the nest shortly after hatching in search of their first meal! 🦗🪰🪲

Here’s hoping for many more successful hatches this summer!🌾🤎 Have you seen any quail chicks yet?

🐥🌿

06/03/2026

Looking for a good quail lease? Aren’t we all! Join Dr. Dale and his guests Steve Snell and Dr. Ryan O’Shaughnessy as they share their experiences with this ongoing (and elusive) task.
Listen👉 https://quailresearch.org/episode-85-the-elusive-texas-quail-lease/
Search "Dr. Dale on Quail" where ever you get your podcasts, episode 85. 🎙️

Looking for a good quail lease? Aren’t we all! Join Dr. Dale and his guests Steve Snell and Dr. Ryan O’Shaughnessy as they share their experiences with this ongoing (and elusive) task. Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation · Episode 85: The Elusive Texas Quail Lease Presented ByWe appreciate...