The current page allows our fellow Ranch enthusiasts a look into either our current research projects or future research.  Included with research overview we have included some pictures.

Prescribed fire used with cattle grazing will be monitored for its effect on prickly pear as a method of quail friendly cactus control.

Patch Burn Grazing as a Quail Friendly Approach to Prickly Pear Management

Project List

Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch

To sustain Texas’ wild quail hunting heritage for this and future generations

Avifaunal Baseline Study

A bi-monthly survey of birds was conducted on the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch.  The survey was conducted for six months to be sure sampling was conducted in each season.  Sixty-two species of birds were observed over the 6 months period.  Bird observations were analyzed for their habitat usage, breeding status and for the season of their occurrence.  The break down of the bird life includes 33 species that are most likely year round residents, 17 observed only in summer, 7 found only in winter and 5 migrants.  Twenty-three species were classified as nesters with an additional 9 listed as potential nesters.

Bobwhite Response to Large Scale Wildfire in the Texas Panhandle:  A GIS Based Analysis

The use of geospatial information systems (GIS) has enabled precise analysis of natural phenomena in relation to landform and temporal data.  GIS software (ArcView 9.2, ESRI. Redlands, CA) was used to evaluate habitat occupancy by northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) for wildfire-burned areas in the panhandle of Texas.  Specifically, we examined how far into the burned area quail penetrated and their relative abundance for 2 years post-fire.  Year one (2006) showed that quail had a clear preference for the unburned areas when compared to burned areas.  When quail did penetrate into the burned area, there appeared to be no discernable pattern.  Year 2 (2007) was more complex with some sites having greater use of the burned area while other burned plots still had no quail present.  This variation may be a function of different fire intensities and/or soil texture (sandier sites) may have promoted better quail habitat.  We will continue monitoring through the 2008 season.