Status Update: It’s complicated. Today is Tax Day or April 15th, which also happens to be a good marker on the calendar to recognize as the start of nesting season for America’s quail species. That said, the six different species of quail live in a wide array of climates from the bobwhites of the Southeast’s savannas to the Gambel’s of the Southwest’s deserts. One of the cool elements of quail biology is that all six species can nest from April all the way through October, depending upon the weather and habitat conditions. So, while today is a good marker as the start of quail nesting season, the duration of nesting season for quail goes on for a while. In other words . . . it’s complicated. If you want to learn more about the arrival of nesting season across the quail range hit the link in our bio. #quailforever #thehabitatorganization #taxday

Hope on the Horizon Dirac Twidwell doesn’t hate cedar trees, but that doesn’t stop him from telling people to light them on fire. Eastern red cedars are a primary driver of woody encroachment across the country. Cedar and other species are taking over areas where they were previously absent, creating major issues for ecosystems, particularly on the Great Plains. Encroachment is most common on grasslands, and the Great Plains of the American Midwest are a hotbed for the advancement of this “green glacier.” Click the link in our bio to read "Hope on the Horizon" which appears in the current “Fire” issue of the Quail Forever Journal. #quailforever #thehabitatorganization

Quail Fact Friday! Mid-April usually signals the start of nesting for bobwhite quail. While we often think of grass as key for nesting, the best sites feature a mix of native bunch grasses, bare ground, and forbs. Hens tuck their nests beneath clumps of grass or under protective shrubs, often within 50 feet of an edge, where incubating birds can easily forage, dust, and remain protected from danger. Healthy habitat = successful nesting. #quailforever #quailfactfriday