Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation

08/18/2026

🌱Plants, plants, and more PLANTS!🌱
(And Lovebugs iykyk)

If you guessed East Texas from our last post, you’d be right! QuailMasters is in Huntsville this week taking a special interest in quail habitat and habitat management! 🐣

This morning, we got a private tour of Rock Creek Ranch in Livingston by Brad Kubecka, PhD, to talk about burning practices and plant identification. Seeing real world examples of the plants we have been studying is instrumental in learning about what quail want and need. Thank you Dr. Kubecka!

08/17/2026

Can you guess where we are? The trees are a hint😉! Tall Timbers, a Research Station & Land Conservancy Park Cities Quail

08/14/2026

Meet Bailey Uecker, our newest quail research intern!

Bailey is from Lewiston, Montana, and is a graduate of Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, with a degree in Environmental Science. 🦌🐦🌿
Bailey comes from an agricultural and ranching background, grew up in a large family, and is passionate about the
outdoors as an avid fisherman and hunter. She enjoys learning everything there is to know about different ecosystems. She has a background in wildlife management, having conducted
various surveys and research on different species in Montana and Wyoming.
🌻🐥
Bailey is excited to learn what Texas has to offer, and we are
excited to have her join us for the next few months! We look forward to the great work ahead in support of quail research and habitat management!

08/11/2026

📢 WE’RE HIRING📢
The Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation (RPQRF) is looking for a motivated Field Technician to join our team and help evaluate the field efficacy of fenbendazole-medicated feed for wild bobwhite quail.
This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in wildlife research, quail trapping and handling, telemetry, GPS monitoring, and field data collection while contributing to research aimed at improving the health and sustainability of quail populations.
Details:
📍 Location: Rotan, Texas
📅 Expected dates: October 5, 2026 – March 26, 2027
⏰ 40–50 hours a week
💰 Starting salary at $2,500/month
🏠 Shared on-site housing provided
🎓 B.S. in Wildlife Science or related field preferred, or currently pursuing a degree
🌾 Previous field experience is helpful, but not required
Responsibilities include:
• Maintaining and filling quail feeders
• Assisting with quail trapping and safe handling
• Monitoring GPS-collared birds and maintaining telemetry equipment
• Collecting, recording, and reporting research data
Applicants should be comfortable working independently, able to lift up to 50 lbs., and have basic computer skills.
📩 To apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to Mitchell Riggs at [email protected].
📞 Questions? Email Mitchell at the above email
🗓️ Application deadline: October 1, 2026
If you’re passionate about quail, wildlife research, and working in the field, we’d love to hear from you!

08/05/2026

🐦 We’re getting ready for trapping season!🪤

Our new leg bands have arrived, and they're more than just colorful—they're an important part of our research.

This year, we're using two different band colors to help identify birds in our study. Half of the ranch will receive a dose of fenbendazole via gavage, while the other half will not. The different band colors allow us to quickly tell which birds have been medicated and which haven't, even when they're recaptured after crossing between the two sections of the ranch.

Trapping begins in early December, and our team will be in the field for 12 consecutive days collecting valuable data. Every bird we band helps us better understand wildlife health and improve our conservation efforts.

Stay tuned for updates as trapping season gets underway!

08/03/2026

Please help us give a warm welcome to Haeley Carpenter, the newest member of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation team! 🎉

Haeley joins us as our new Programs & Outreach Coordinator, bringing a passion for storytelling, conservation, and the outdoors.

Growing up in Leander, Texas, Haeley spent many weekends at her family's ranch near Lampasas, where she developed a love for hunting and wildlife conservation. Some of her earliest memories are from the deer stand—her dad even had her sleep in her hunting clothes so they could get to the stand before daylight! Those experiences instilled a lifelong appreciation for hunting heritage and the outdoors.

Haeley graduated from Tarleton State University 💜 in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications, along with minors in Communications and Business. While in college, she balanced three jobs, including serving on the staff of the Texan News Service/JTAC, where she worked her way from multimedia journalist to Editor-in-Chief. She also taught kickboxing, so we'd recommend staying on her good side! 💪🥊

Most recently, Haeley worked for the Kerrville Daily Times. Just two weeks after she began, the devastating Fourth of July flood struck Kerrville. She helped serve the community by covering recovery efforts and sharing the stories of the people affected during one of the town's most challenging times.

Haeley is excited to join the RPQRF team because it combines two things she loves most—creative communications and spending time outdoors. She looks forward to meeting landowners, hunters, conservationists, and quail enthusiasts, helping grow support for our mission, and becoming a lifelong student of bobwhite quail.

We're excited to have Haeley on board and can't wait for you to meet her. 👏🪶

08/01/2026

📬 Our August e-Quail Newsletter is here!
Catch up on the latest from the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation, including:
🐦 Spring call counts
🫂 Staff changes
🪹 Broods and breeding
🎙️ Dr. Dale on Quail podcast news
Whether you're a landowner, hunter, wildlife professional, or simply passionate about quail conservation, there's something for everyone.
Read it here: https://mailchi.mp/quailresearch.org/rpqrf-e-quail-newsletter-august-17014289
Be sure to share it with your friends and help us spread the word about quail conservation! 🤠

The heavy rains across the Hill Country of Texas have again sparked conversations amongst quail hunters. One of the most common explanations for poor brood production is that "the chicks drowned in the rain." While heavy rainfall can certainly reduce bobwhite productivity, decades of research sugges...

07/31/2026

🌻This week's featured plant is Cowpen Daisy (Golden Crownbeard).

This native annual is easy to recognize by its bright yellow flowers and is commonly found on sandy soils and disturbed areas, including old cow pens—where it gets its common name. It can grow up to 4' tall and is very tolerant of drought conditions.

While it may not look like much at first glance, Cowpen Daisy is an important plant for wildlife. It provides excellent 🐣brood-rearing cover for young bobwhite quail, giving chicks protection while they search for 🦗insects. The flowers attract a variety of 🦋pollinators, and the seeds are eaten by quail and many other 🐦birds.

🌱 This is my last Plant of the Week post. I'm finally retiring so I will have more time ranching with my husband (he manages the cows, I manage the wildlife😉), enjoying my grandkids, traveling, and, of course, hunting.

Thank you to everyone who has followed along each week, shared these posts, asked questions, and helped spread the importance of native plants and quail habitat conservation. It has truly been a privilege.😊

Don't worry—We can't wait to introduce the newest member of the RPQRF team, who will be taking over our social media and continuing to share all quail things with you! 👏

07/31/2026

🦅 TOP POST OF THE MONTH 🦅
July kept us busy in the best way possible, and while we always have stuff going on at The Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, we love to see what gets our followers' attention here online!
This month, y’all have enjoyed the trail cam featuring the Golden Eagle!
We think the raptor was just passing through during migration, but we are happy it stopped by anyway. Shoutout to our technician, Charlie, for spotting the gorgeous bird!