Posted: 7/17/07
Area farmers have opportunity to improve bobwhite habitat
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Thurman Tucker is on a mission. The retired grocery store manager from Minneapolis is trying to garner as much support as possible to bring the bobwhite quail back to Southeast Minnesota.
A century ago, the small upland game bird was plentiful in southern Minnesota, which is the northern edge of its native range. Minnesota had a regulated hunting season for the bobwhite from 1858 to 1932. According to DNR records, approximately 13,000 bobwhite quail were harvested by hunters in 1927.
With an ever increasing number of acres being farmed, the bobwhite quail population dwindled, forcing the DNR to close the bobwhite season in all areas of the state except for extreme southeast Minnesota in 1933. Bobwhite numbers remained strong in Houston and Fillmore counties until the mid 1950s. The last season for bobwhite quail in southeastern Minnesota was held in 1958.
Tucker has spent the past 30 years trying to improve habitat for bobwhite quail, working with FFA chapters, other service organizations, and putting on demonstrations at county fairs in both Houston and Fillmore counties. Through his relentless work, Tucker was able to convince the St. Paul-based Pheasants Forever conservation organization to create Quail Forever in 2005. The Minnesota chapter of Quail Forever is based in Caledonia. The chapterís first fund-raising banquet was held last March in Caledonia, with 179 sportsmen and birders attending.
There are 83 Quail Forever chapters in 25 states, primarily in the southern corn belt and the deep south.
During the past 25 years, the bobwhite population has declined nearly 80 percent in most of the 35 states where the species is native. According to Quail Forever statistics, nationwide, populations have dropped from nearly 60 million birds in 1980 to 20 million in 1999.
While establishing a state Quail Forever chapter was a positive step, possibly the best hope for the small grey-brown bird is the Northern Bobwhite Quail Habitat Initiative, known as CP-33. Created in 2004, CP-33 pays farmers to idle farmland and restore native grasses, forbs, and shrubs.
According to Tucker, the CP-33 Program has funding for 250,000 acres nationwide. States with large bobwhite populations like Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri, have been allotted up to 20,000 acres per state. Wisconsin received a 1,500-acre allotment, while Minnesota received 500 acres.
"It might seem as if Minnesota was shortchanged," Tucker said last Tuesday, while in Caledonia. "But those 500 acres are limited to just Houston and Fillmore counties."
Tucker noted so far only 230 acres have been enrolled in the program. "Itís a case if we donít use it, we lose it," Tucker pointed out. "So weíre really beating the bushes to get people to sign up."
The CRP annual rental payments are based on three soil types. Most landowners in Houston and Fillmore counties would receive $104/acre/year for 10 years. A signing bonus of up to $100 per acre is available to landowners signing up with the CP-33 initiative. And Quail Forever will kick in an additional $50 per acre for all new signees (five acre minimum.)
On top of all that, Tucker has added one more incentive for signing up....his wifeís mouth-watering carrot cake.
"My wife makes a pretty good carrot cake, and I will give one to every property owner who signs up for the program," Tucker said with a big smile.
Tuckerís passion for the restoration of the bobwhite quail is quite obvious. He makes the 240-mile round trip from his Twin Cities home to Caledonia just about any time someone reports a bobwhite sighting. Tucker noted a dozen years ago he could find up to 25 coveys (a group or flock of bobwhites, usually 10 to 20 birds) in the two-county area. Itís been several years since heís seen any bobwhites, but he traveled to Caledonia July 10 to check out a possible sighting, and also to prepare for the monthly Quail Forever meeting.
"The changes in farming practices have hurt," Tucker said. "As more farmers get out of the dairy industry, and more pasture land and hay ground is plowed up, we have less habitat. Thatís where the CP-33 Program comes into play. Instead of farmers having to purchase seed, fertilizers, chemicals, and spend all that money on fuel to plant crops, they can get paid pretty well for idling those acres."
It can be a win-win situation for local farmers and the environment, according to Tucker.
The Minnesota Chapter of Quail Forever meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Good Times in Caledonia. Tucker said about 20 persons attend the monthly meetings. Plans are already being made for next yearís banquet, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 23.
For more information on the CP-33 Program, persons should contact the Houston County NRCS office in Caledonia at (507) 724-5261 Ext. 3. For more information on Quail Forever or to report quail sightings, call (612) 588-2966.
Caledonia Argus
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507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com