We Are Hiring // Director of Conservation Delivery South Region Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s South Region is comprised of just over 100 employees (9 State Coordinators) across the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Our goal in the South Region is to restore bobwhite quail populations throughout their historic range by implementing the organizations four strategic priorities: increasing and improving wildlife habitat on public and private lands, advancing conservation policies and program funding, expanding public access to upland wildlife habitat, and expanding, educating and engaging the upland conservation community. We are seeking a qualified individual to lead and support the state leadership and provide strategic direction for the mission delivery in the South Region. Click here to apply: https://bit.ly/4leoSB9

Quail Fact Friday! Unlike other quail species in the Southwest, Mearns’ quail have unique adaptations for accessing food. Specifically, Mearns’ quail use their elongated claws and oversized ills to access underground bulbs and tubers that comprise ~80% of their diet through the fall and winter. These adaptations also allow them to feed on larger insects and acorns non commonly found in the diet of other quail species. Mearns’ quail have also been known to access insect larvae from livestock and wildlife feces and carcasses. #quailforever #quailfactfriday #thehabitatorganization

Pheasant Fact Friday! Peak pheasant hatch occurs the first two weeks of June, and the new chicks need insects to survive. For the first two weeks, they will grow faster than any other time in their life. To support such growth, their diet must be over 90% insects. A minimum protein intake of 27% is needed for growth and regulation of body temperature. The hen must brood her chicks during cool nights until they are 11 days old and can control their own body temperature. Exposure to temperatures of 43 degrees or less for 30 minutes can be fatal for chicks under 11 days old. Spraying for insects during this can slow the chick’s growth and can make them more susceptible to cool temperatures. #pheasantsforever #pheasantfactfriday #thehabitatorganization

Making Things Right // Advice and Insights for Promoting Pollinators in a Habitat Plan Landowners, managers and caretakers hold the key to preserving the biotic community on their property. When managing for, say … pheasants, keep in mind other creatures that could benefit from slight adjustments in your plan. Pollinators should be a set of creatures included in your plan. Pollinator habitat is a prime component within the habitat mosaic of what pheasants and quail need. Click the link below to learn more about good pollinator habitat and what you can do to implement a plan of your own. https://bit.ly/465PqQG #pheasantsforever #thehabitatorganization #pollinatorweek

How Deep Do Your Roots Go? The native grasslands of North America are more than meets the eye. Beyond their rare beauty, the native prairie plants are ecological powerhouses – sequestering carbon, enriching our soil, and cleaning the air we breathe. What’s more? Their intricate root systems significantly impact water management by reducing runoff and improving water infiltration. Native prairie flowers and grasses are renowned for their deep, expansive roots, which help absorb and store water efficiently. Take the leadplant – its roots can reach up to 17 feet in depth. In fact, up to 90% of wildflowers and native grass species thrive beneath the surface, where their roots access water from deep within the soil. This adaptation assists prairie plants in withstanding drought conditions by tapping into moisture reserves. From backyard pollinator plots to vast, intact prairies, these root networks are hard at work. Their reach extends far beyond the surface, quietly conserving water and sustaining life across entire ecosystems. So next time you find yourself in the uplands, pause for a moment. Admire the grasses and flowers waving in the wind – but remember, the real magic lies below. #quailforever #thehabitatorganization

The Montana Grassland Initiative Explained Montana’s grasslands are disappearing. The state’s native grasslands have been cut in half — adding to the nationwide loss of more than 50 million acres in the last ten years. The Montana Grassland Initiative hopes to reverse this decline by restoring 1.5 million acres of grassland and sagebrush steppe habitat across the state — providing sustainable, long-term conservation outcomes for one of the world’s most imperiled landscapes. To learn more about our Montana Grassland Initiative visit the link below. https://bit.ly/4n0gtmu #pheasantsforever #thehabitatorganization

What happens when you take an agricultural field and restore it to pollinator habitat? This study being conducted in Missouri aims to find out. Utilizing recording units and in person counts, QF biologists can better understand how many birds are on the landscape and how effective this critical habitat is for the birds. #quailforever #thehabitatorganization

Pheasants need high-quality habitat that provides food sources, winter cover, and diverse grasslands for nesting and rearing young. This Pollinator and Grasslands week you can help support wildlife habitat projects by making a donation of $45 or more and receive the PF Graphic T-Shirt featuring art by Ryan Kirby as our “thank you” for supporting conservation. Donate today: https://bit.ly/44l7RiV #pheasantsforever #thehabitatorganization

Quail need high-quality habitat that provides food sources, winter cover, and diverse grasslands for nesting and rearing young. This Pollinator and Grasslands week you can help support wildlife habitat projects by making a donation of $45 or more and receive the QF Graphic T-Shirt featuring art by @ryankirbyart as our “thank you” for supporting conservation. Donate today: https://quailforever.org/SA25 #quailforever #thehabitatorganization

NEW ON THE WING PODCAST Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by The Nature Conservancy's Kelsey Molloy, Wyoming Migration Initiative's Andrew Jakes, Pheasants Forever’s Casey Sill and PF’s Montana State Coordinator Hunter VanDonsel for a discussion regarding the Montana Grassland Initiative. This week’s episode celebrates the unique aspects and animals comprising Montana’s grasslands and the efforts PF & QF are taking to conserve this precious biome. Listen now at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts! https://bit.ly/447j6ue “On the Wing Podcast” is proudly fueled by Pro Plan Sporting Dogs #pheasantsforever #quailforever #thehabitatorganization #onthewingpodcast

NEW ON THE WING PODCAST Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by The Nature Conservancy's Kelsey Molloy, Wyoming Migration Initiative's Andrew Jakes, Pheasants Forever's Casey Sill and PF’s Montana State Coordinator Hunter VanDonsel for a discussion regarding the Montana Grassland Initiative. This week’s episode celebrates the unique aspects and animals comprising Montana’s grasslands and the efforts PF & QF are taking to conserve this precious biome. Listen now at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts! https://bit.ly/40729ic “On the Wing Podcast” is proudly fueled by Pro Plan Sporting Dogs #pheasantsforever #quailforever #thehabitatorganization #onthewingpodcast

Across the U.S. Great Plains, over half of our native grasslands have been permanently lost to cropland, energy and urban development, or the encroachment of trees. This loss threatens entire wildlife communities as well as human economies and cultures. Once grasslands are degraded, the finely-tuned benefits they provide can permanently disappear. We must stop this death by a thousand cuts – and turn the tide – before it’s too late for our favorite birds, our irreplaceable pollinators, and for ourselves. To learn more visit www.mapforgrasslands.org 🎥: Cornell Lab of Ornithology