Wildlife Agencies Develop Western Quail MOUs D ick Haldeman Two interagency MOU's for Quail Management were developed at the first face-to-face meeting of the Western Quail Working Group (WQWG). The January 6-7, 20ll, meeting was at the Western Association Of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in Tucson, Arizona. Larry Voyles, Director, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and Director Sponsor of the WQWG, proposed the meeting and was approved by WAFWA in July 2009.

The purpose of the group is to implement the habitat objectives and management recommendations outlined in the Western Quail Management Plan. The Memoranda of Understandings, one among the State and Province membership of WAFWA and another between WAFWA and the Federal Agencies, were drafted. After both drafts are reviewed by the WAFWA membership they will be presented to the State Directors.

Significant discussion about the potential benefits, obstacles, and future direction of the working group occurred at this meeting. Mike Rabe (Arizona) and Sonke Mastrup (California) were selected as co-chairs. Planning for the Quail VII symposium (January 9-12, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona) was discussed. Abstracts for Quail VII are due March 31, 2011; a website http://www.azgfd.gov/quailvii/ has been created where more information is available.

All members of WQWG will work with their Directors and supervisors to refine the MOUs and incorporate changes prior to the July WAFWA meeting; the finished MOU's will be presented to WAFWA for consideration at that time. Between now and July 2011, the group will meet via conference calls. Incorporating habitat guidelines from the Western Quail Management Plan into current agency habitat restoration efforts will yield the quickest results toward plan implementation. Marketing the plan among agencies and non-governmental conservation organizations will continue. Expanding partnership to non-governmental organizations, Joint Ventures, and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives is planned.

Don McKenzie and Tom Daley from the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI) gave presentations on the evolution of NBCI and the lessons they learned in developing that organization. San Stiver, WAFWA sage grouse coordinator, presented his perspective on the development and value of the coordination that occurs within WAFWA in regard to sage grouse. Landscape management, above political boarders was stressed by the bobwhite and sage grouse coordinators. "These MOU's signed by the state and federal agencies will help us (Quail Unlimited) coordinate volunteers and develop long range projects across the west", Quail Unlimited Western Regional Director Dick Haldeman concluded.

All states gave reports on the current status of their quail conservation and management. Wendell Gilgert, National Resource Conservation Service, presented an overview of Farm Bill and other conservation programs available for wildlife conservation, many of which are directly applicable for quail conservation. Mary Honeycutt, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, gave a historic overview and current status of the masked bobwhite (the only endangered quail in North America) in Arizona and Mexico.

More Information contact Dick Haldeman dhaldeman@qu.org