EP. 216: Bobwhite Quail and Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers Linked by Fire

Host Bob St.Pierre is joined by Dr. Jessica McGuire, a wildlife biologist and Quail Forever’s Working Lands for Bobwhite Quail Framework Coordinator, and Joe Burnam, Georgia DNR’s red-cockaded woodpecker biologist who also has an extensive background in bobwhite quail biology. Burnam and McGuire discuss how focusing on creating great red cockaded-woodpecker habitat using prescribed fire on the southeastern United States’ open pine woodlands also can help create a bobwhite quail population explosion.

Episode Highlights:
• McGuire explains the shared habitat need for an open pine forest between the red-cockaded woodpeckers living near the canopy to the gopher tortoises living at ground level (and sometimes underground), and bobwhite quail living on the ground and in between.
• Burnam explains the “Safe Harbor” program that incentivizes landowners to create habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker by removing the fear around the Endangered Species Act.
• McGuire points landowners to learn more about conservation programs available for improving wildlife habitat in the southeastern bobwhite quail range by visiting with a Quail Forever biologist. Find a QF Biologist near you.

Reminder: Document the bobwhite quail you encounter to help us measure their nationwide population by using the new Bobscapes mobile app.