By Peter J. McGuil
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in Victoria County is hosting a Quail Appreciation Day program set for May 20 beginning at the McFaddin Mercantile in McFaddin.
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. followed by the program at 9 a.m. Adjournment is set for 4:30 p.m. McFaddin is on Farm-to-Market Road 445 off of U.S. Highway 77 south.
The region in and around Victoria County has historically been prime quail habitat, and for generations, we've enjoyed the rich culture surrounding the hunting of wild quail. Unfortunately, we haven't enjoyed those glory days in quite a while.
The goal of this program is to offer some thought and show some possibilities being demonstrated at various sites in an effort to once again re-establish viable wild quail populations across the area.
Individual preregistration is $10 by May 12 and $20 thereafter. The fee includes lunch and refreshments. To preregister, call the AgriLife Extension office in Victoria County at 361-575-4581.
The program's keynote speaker will be Dr. Dale Rollins. Rollins is the state coordinator for the Reversing the Decline of Quail in Texas initiative, director of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch at Roby and a retired AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist at San Angelo.