look around what do you see each other it’s not at aureum these
each other it’s not at aureum these
each other it’s not at aureum these quail what did you see on your way here
quail what did you see on your way here
quail what did you see on your way here this morning cars road streets traffic
this morning cars road streets traffic
this morning cars road streets traffic lots of concrete and buildings but you
lots of concrete and buildings but you
lots of concrete and buildings but you didn’t see this you are sitting in one
didn’t see this you are sitting in one
didn’t see this you are sitting in one of those critically endangered
of those critically endangered
of those critically endangered ecosystems in North America and it’s
ecosystems in North America and it’s
ecosystems in North America and it’s right here in our own backyard in Dallas
right here in our own backyard in Dallas
right here in our own backyard in Dallas Texas that’s right I said one of the
Texas that’s right I said one of the
Texas that’s right I said one of the most endangered ecosystem it’s called
most endangered ecosystem it’s called
most endangered ecosystem it’s called the black line period in less than 1/10
the black line period in less than 1/10
the black line period in less than 1/10 of 1% remains in the entire world so
of 1% remains in the entire world so
of 1% remains in the entire world so what is the Blackland Prairie the
what is the Blackland Prairie the
what is the Blackland Prairie the Blackland Prairie is named for its rich
Blackland Prairie is named for its rich
Blackland Prairie is named for its rich black soil and tall grasses grass is so
black soil and tall grasses grass is so
black soil and tall grasses grass is so tall you can get lost in them serves as
tall you can get lost in them serves as
tall you can get lost in them serves as a habitat for over 500 plant species and
a habitat for over 500 plant species and
a habitat for over 500 plant species and 327 different types of birds it was rich
327 different types of birds it was rich
327 different types of birds it was rich expansive and vibrant that was then in
expansive and vibrant that was then in
expansive and vibrant that was then in the past 150 years we humans have had a
the past 150 years we humans have had a
the past 150 years we humans have had a devastating effect on the Blackland
devastating effect on the Blackland
devastating effect on the Blackland Prairie from rapid population growth
Prairie from rapid population growth
Prairie from rapid population growth crops growing in the Prairie fields and
crops growing in the Prairie fields and
crops growing in the Prairie fields and excessive bison and cattle grazing this
excessive bison and cattle grazing this
excessive bison and cattle grazing this is now check out this map of Texas that
is now check out this map of Texas that
is now check out this map of Texas that small sliver is where the Blackland
small sliver is where the Blackland
small sliver is where the Blackland Prairie is of the original 20 million
Prairie is of the original 20 million
Prairie is of the original 20 million acres only five thousand remains today
acres only five thousand remains today
acres only five thousand remains today plus it’s shrinking each year so unless
plus it’s shrinking each year so unless
plus it’s shrinking each year so unless we take some now to preserve and protect
we take some now to preserve and protect
we take some now to preserve and protect it it will soon be gone forever
it it will soon be gone forever
it it will soon be gone forever these Blackland Prairie plants and
these Blackland Prairie plants and
these Blackland Prairie plants and animals are critically endangered with
animals are critically endangered with
animals are critically endangered with the we three lose these grasses we lose
the we three lose these grasses we lose
the we three lose these grasses we lose a habitat for over 500 plants and 327
a habitat for over 500 plants and 327
a habitat for over 500 plants and 327 birds and other pollinators and Wildlife
birds and other pollinators and Wildlife
birds and other pollinators and Wildlife the hens doe Sparrow has already become
the hens doe Sparrow has already become
the hens doe Sparrow has already become extinct
extinct
extinct dawn forever five years ago in the
dawn forever five years ago in the
dawn forever five years ago in the seventh grade I learned about the
seventh grade I learned about the
seventh grade I learned about the Blackland Prairie I learned it’s
Blackland Prairie I learned it’s
Blackland Prairie I learned it’s terrible loss and I felt moved to do
terrible loss and I felt moved to do
terrible loss and I felt moved to do something to help preserve and protected
something to help preserve and protected
something to help preserve and protected so I began consulting Texas Master
so I began consulting Texas Master
so I began consulting Texas Master Naturalist and leading experts in their
Naturalist and leading experts in their
Naturalist and leading experts in their field regarding prairie restoration I’ve
field regarding prairie restoration I’ve
field regarding prairie restoration I’ve visited existing Blackland Prairie
visited existing Blackland Prairie
visited existing Blackland Prairie after gathering all these facts and data
after gathering all these facts and data
after gathering all these facts and data I had to act and so I developed a three
I had to act and so I developed a three
I had to act and so I developed a three pronged approach to save the Blackland
pronged approach to save the Blackland
pronged approach to save the Blackland Prairie one moved the invasive grasses
Prairie one moved the invasive grasses
Prairie one moved the invasive grasses to replant native grasses in their place
to replant native grasses in their place
to replant native grasses in their place and three reintroduce Texas endangered
and three reintroduce Texas endangered
and three reintroduce Texas endangered animals and so I began doing that
animals and so I began doing that
animals and so I began doing that Johnson grass and Bermuda grass are
Johnson grass and Bermuda grass are
Johnson grass and Bermuda grass are invasive grasses that have overwhelmed
invasive grasses that have overwhelmed
invasive grasses that have overwhelmed the Blackland Prairie what makes them so
the Blackland Prairie what makes them so
the Blackland Prairie what makes them so invasive
invasive
invasive well they repopulate quickly which
well they repopulate quickly which
well they repopulate quickly which allows them to crowd out native plants
allows them to crowd out native plants
allows them to crowd out native plants and their seeds survive their seeds can
and their seeds survive their seeds can
and their seeds survive their seeds can travel vast distances by wind water air
travel vast distances by wind water air
travel vast distances by wind water air and can even survive ingestion by most
and can even survive ingestion by most
and can even survive ingestion by most animals and most importantly their seeds
animals and most importantly their seeds
animals and most importantly their seeds don’t decompose in the soil for many
don’t decompose in the soil for many
don’t decompose in the soil for many years I initially tried several removal
years I initially tried several removal
years I initially tried several removal methods physically digging and pulling
methods physically digging and pulling
methods physically digging and pulling chemical removal applications and
chemical removal applications and
chemical removal applications and suffocation with the plastic black tarp
suffocation with the plastic black tarp
suffocation with the plastic black tarp none of these methods proved to be truly
none of these methods proved to be truly
none of these methods proved to be truly effective because the grass the Prairie
effective because the grass the Prairie
effective because the grass the Prairie grab these invasive grasses are so roots
grab these invasive grasses are so roots
grab these invasive grasses are so roots are so deep the roots are over three
are so deep the roots are over three
are so deep the roots are over three feet deep and the chemicals also harm
feet deep and the chemicals also harm
feet deep and the chemicals also harm the native plants as well so I decided
the native plants as well so I decided
the native plants as well so I decided to implement interceding which is an
to implement interceding which is an
to implement interceding which is an innovative planting technique which
innovative planting technique which
innovative planting technique which mimics how seeds grow and germinate in
mimics how seeds grow and germinate in
mimics how seeds grow and germinate in nature
nature
nature the sheer number of seeds and these
the sheer number of seeds and these
the sheer number of seeds and these high-density patches encourages growth
high-density patches encourages growth
high-density patches encourages growth and spread all tamale throughout the
and spread all tamale throughout the
and spread all tamale throughout the whole meadow to implement this
whole meadow to implement this
whole meadow to implement this interesting method I needed seeds so I
interesting method I needed seeds so I
interesting method I needed seeds so I went to an existing Blackland Prairie to
went to an existing Blackland Prairie to
went to an existing Blackland Prairie to gather the seeds you
gather the seeds you
gather the seeds you grabbed at the base of the plant warming
grabbed at the base of the plant warming
grabbed at the base of the plant warming your cup and your hands into a cup and
your cup and your hands into a cup and
your cup and your hands into a cup and lift up from the stem the seeds will
lift up from the stem the seeds will
lift up from the stem the seeds will stay in the palm of your hand you have
stay in the palm of your hand you have
stay in the palm of your hand you have to gather many different types of seeds
to gather many different types of seeds
to gather many different types of seeds to maintain plant diversity such as big
to maintain plant diversity such as big
to maintain plant diversity such as big bluestem little bluestem Indian grass
bluestem little bluestem Indian grass
bluestem little bluestem Indian grass switchgrass and a whole host of wild
switchgrass and a whole host of wild
switchgrass and a whole host of wild flowers now it’s time to sow the seeds
flowers now it’s time to sow the seeds
flowers now it’s time to sow the seeds in the Blackland Prairie using the
in the Blackland Prairie using the
in the Blackland Prairie using the interceding method dig a small plot put
interceding method dig a small plot put
interceding method dig a small plot put the seeds in the spot then
the seeds in the spot then
the seeds in the spot then stomp-stomp-stomp to break it down more
stomp-stomp-stomp to break it down more
stomp-stomp-stomp to break it down more slowly you dig a small plot where you
slowly you dig a small plot where you
slowly you dig a small plot where you remove the invasive grasses from a small
remove the invasive grasses from a small
remove the invasive grasses from a small little patch but seeds in the spot where
little patch but seeds in the spot where
little patch but seeds in the spot where you plant these high-density patches of
you plant these high-density patches of
you plant these high-density patches of variety of seeds then stomp stomp stomp
variety of seeds then stomp stomp stomp
variety of seeds then stomp stomp stomp this mimics how seeds germinate in
this mimics how seeds germinate in
this mimics how seeds germinate in nature we applied this dance and sing
nature we applied this dance and sing
nature we applied this dance and sing method throughout the whole prairie and
method throughout the whole prairie and
method throughout the whole prairie and despite our off-key singing it worked
despite our off-key singing it worked
despite our off-key singing it worked but it takes a long time
but it takes a long time
but it takes a long time I began implementing this method of 5
I began implementing this method of 5
I began implementing this method of 5 years ago and I’m just now seeing the
years ago and I’m just now seeing the
years ago and I’m just now seeing the great results from my hard efforts after
great results from my hard efforts after
great results from my hard efforts after we removed the invasive grasses
we removed the invasive grasses
we removed the invasive grasses replanted native grasses it was time to
replanted native grasses it was time to
replanted native grasses it was time to reintroduce Texas and dangered animals
reintroduce Texas and dangered animals
reintroduce Texas and dangered animals back into the Blackland Prairie I chose
back into the Blackland Prairie I chose
back into the Blackland Prairie I chose to save that northern bobwhite quail the
to save that northern bobwhite quail the
to save that northern bobwhite quail the northern bobwhite quail is population
northern bobwhite quail is population
northern bobwhite quail is population has declined by 82% in the past 50 years
has declined by 82% in the past 50 years
has declined by 82% in the past 50 years they can live in the Prairie because
they can live in the Prairie because
they can live in the Prairie because they can nest and protect themselves
they can nest and protect themselves
they can nest and protect themselves from predators in the tall prairie
from predators in the tall prairie
from predators in the tall prairie grasses and they get their name from
grasses and they get their name from
grasses and they get their name from their mating collar which resembles Bob
their mating collar which resembles Bob
their mating collar which resembles Bob Bob white and believe me it’s loud you
Bob white and believe me it’s loud you
Bob white and believe me it’s loud you heard this call when I was being
heard this call when I was being
heard this call when I was being introduced and so I began raising quail
introduced and so I began raising quail
introduced and so I began raising quail and yes my mom said there was a big
and yes my mom said there was a big
and yes my mom said there was a big thank you for allowing me to do this
thank you for allowing me to do this
thank you for allowing me to do this imagine our first conversation hey mom
imagine our first conversation hey mom
imagine our first conversation hey mom what do you think of me raising over 300
what do you think of me raising over 300
what do you think of me raising over 300 quail in our living room
quail in our living room
quail in our living room at least to say it didn’t go over well
at least to say it didn’t go over well
at least to say it didn’t go over well at first since 2013
at first since 2013
at first since 2013 I’ve consulted quail experts and
I’ve consulted quail experts and
I’ve consulted quail experts and wildlife biologists to learn the secrets
wildlife biologists to learn the secrets
wildlife biologists to learn the secrets behind incubating raising hatching and
behind incubating raising hatching and
behind incubating raising hatching and rearing quail and I obtained my Texas
rearing quail and I obtained my Texas
rearing quail and I obtained my Texas game bird breeder license which gives me
game bird breeder license which gives me
game bird breeder license which gives me the authority to raise over a thousand
the authority to raise over a thousand
the authority to raise over a thousand quail in a year so I began raising quail
quail in a year so I began raising quail
quail in a year so I began raising quail there’s actually a lot of science behind
there’s actually a lot of science behind
there’s actually a lot of science behind incubating and raising eggs for three
incubating and raising eggs for three
incubating and raising eggs for three weeks the eggs are kept at a constant
weeks the eggs are kept at a constant
weeks the eggs are kept at a constant temperature of 99.5 degrees with a
temperature of 99.5 degrees with a
temperature of 99.5 degrees with a humidity of 55% when they were born we
humidity of 55% when they were born we
humidity of 55% when they were born we named a lot of them both
named a lot of them both
named a lot of them both bobwhite that is even when they’re born
bobwhite that is even when they’re born
bobwhite that is even when they’re born they’re very fragile bird with the high
they’re very fragile bird with the high
they’re very fragile bird with the high mortality so we keep them in a small box
mortality so we keep them in a small box
mortality so we keep them in a small box for two weeks after they go stronger we
for two weeks after they go stronger we
for two weeks after they go stronger we move them to a brooder in our backyard
move them to a brooder in our backyard
move them to a brooder in our backyard then they learn to walk grow bigger
then they learn to walk grow bigger
then they learn to walk grow bigger learn to poop and chirp constantly you
learn to poop and chirp constantly you
learn to poop and chirp constantly you would think that if you cry at some time
would think that if you cry at some time
would think that if you cry at some time but nope finally they get moved to the
but nope finally they get moved to the
but nope finally they get moved to the backyard in a flight pin where they can
backyard in a flight pin where they can
backyard in a flight pin where they can learn to fly and they grow up until
learn to fly and they grow up until
learn to fly and they grow up until they’re mature enough to be released
they’re mature enough to be released
they’re mature enough to be released back into the Blackland Prairie when
back into the Blackland Prairie when
back into the Blackland Prairie when they reach of age and they start laying
they reach of age and they start laying
they reach of age and they start laying these clutches of eggs I gathered their
these clutches of eggs I gathered their
these clutches of eggs I gathered their eggs I start begin incubating them
eggs I start begin incubating them
eggs I start begin incubating them starting the process all over again now
starting the process all over again now
starting the process all over again now after I are successfully raised in Rio
after I are successfully raised in Rio
after I are successfully raised in Rio quail it was time to reintroduce these
quail it was time to reintroduce these
quail it was time to reintroduce these quail back into the Blackland Prairie to
quail back into the Blackland Prairie to
quail back into the Blackland Prairie to date there is no successful scientific
date there is no successful scientific
date there is no successful scientific documentation of successful
documentation of successful
documentation of successful reintroductions of northern bobwhite
reintroductions of northern bobwhite
reintroductions of northern bobwhite quail back into the Blackland Prairie
quail back into the Blackland Prairie
quail back into the Blackland Prairie working with wildlife biologists at
working with wildlife biologists at
working with wildlife biologists at Louisville Lake and environmental
Louisville Lake and environmental
Louisville Lake and environmental learning area known as Lila I have been
learning area known as Lila I have been
learning area known as Lila I have been banding and releasing quail for three
banding and releasing quail for three
banding and releasing quail for three years basically we take 30 quail 20
years basically we take 30 quail 20
years basically we take 30 quail 20 females 10 males and in this group
females 10 males and in this group
females 10 males and in this group called a cubby we band them with a
called a cubby we band them with a
called a cubby we band them with a single color like red green blue and
single color like red green blue and
single color like red green blue and then we put them in the flight pin this
then we put them in the flight pin this
then we put them in the flight pin this is a video of the birds in the flight
is a video of the birds in the flight
is a video of the birds in the flight pan after we just banded them
pan after we just banded them
pan after we just banded them if you look closely you might be able to
if you look closely you might be able to
if you look closely you might be able to see a little red band on their feet
see a little red band on their feet
see a little red band on their feet after they end the flight pin for a
after they end the flight pin for a
after they end the flight pin for a couple days and they get acclimated to
couple days and they get acclimated to
couple days and they get acclimated to the tall prairie grasses and everything
the tall prairie grasses and everything
the tall prairie grasses and everything else we take them to a different part of
else we take them to a different part of
else we take them to a different part of the park then release them and they’re
the park then release them and they’re
the park then release them and they’re free
free
free since then we have spotted some of these
since then we have spotted some of these
since then we have spotted some of these quail these right here are some images
quail these right here are some images
quail these right here are some images of the quail we have released back into
of the quail we have released back into
of the quail we have released back into the Blackland Prairie as you can see
the Blackland Prairie as you can see
the Blackland Prairie as you can see they’re potentially health there’s
they’re potentially health there’s
they’re potentially health there’s appear to be healthy and potentially
appear to be healthy and potentially
appear to be healthy and potentially breeding all on their own these quail
breeding all on their own these quail
breeding all on their own these quail have been successively reintroduced back
have been successively reintroduced back
have been successively reintroduced back into the Blackland Prairie from what
into the Blackland Prairie from what
into the Blackland Prairie from what started as a Eagle Scout project many
started as a Eagle Scout project many
started as a Eagle Scout project many years ago is blossomed to a whole
years ago is blossomed to a whole
years ago is blossomed to a whole community effort with over a hundred
community effort with over a hundred
community effort with over a hundred volunteers with 3,000 volunteer hours my
volunteers with 3,000 volunteer hours my
volunteers with 3,000 volunteer hours my passion to save the Blackland Prairie
passion to save the Blackland Prairie
passion to save the Blackland Prairie star blossoms into this wonderful thing
star blossoms into this wonderful thing
star blossoms into this wonderful thing it’s become something bigger than myself
it’s become something bigger than myself
it’s become something bigger than myself how can you help well you can remove
how can you help well you can remove
how can you help well you can remove invasive grasses at your own house and
invasive grasses at your own house and
invasive grasses at your own house and plant native grasses in your
plant native grasses in your
plant native grasses in your neighborhood volunteer at a local nature
neighborhood volunteer at a local nature
neighborhood volunteer at a local nature center like the Twelve Hills Nature
center like the Twelve Hills Nature
center like the Twelve Hills Nature Center or connemara Conservancy and most
Center or connemara Conservancy and most
Center or connemara Conservancy and most importantly think globally and act
importantly think globally and act
importantly think globally and act locally to make an impact in our world
locally to make an impact in our world
locally to make an impact in our world the average human lifespan is about 75
the average human lifespan is about 75
the average human lifespan is about 75 years which calculates out to about 2.3
years which calculates out to about 2.3
years which calculates out to about 2.3 billion seconds that’s a lot of seconds
billion seconds that’s a lot of seconds
billion seconds that’s a lot of seconds somewhere along all of those seconds
somewhere along all of those seconds
somewhere along all of those seconds each of us has the capability power
each of us has the capability power
each of us has the capability power passion and responsibility to preserve
passion and responsibility to preserve
passion and responsibility to preserve and protect our world not only for our
and protect our world not only for our
and protect our world not only for our generation but for generations to come
generation but for generations to come
generation but for generations to come how are you going to spend those seconds
”
Be First to Comment