About the Bobscapes Mobile App
Tracking Bobwhite Quail on Our Landscapes
USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has partnered with Quail Forever, University of Georgia
Gamebird Lab, state agencies and other partners to engage in an aggressive effort to conserve Bobwhite
habitat through the “Northern Bobwhite, Grasslands, and Savannas Framework.” The goal of this
NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife effort is to recover central and eastern grasslands for Northern Bobwhite and
other upland species that have seen severe declines over the past 30 years.
One of the exciting initiatives of this partnership is the development of a mobile app for landowners called “BOBSCAPES.” The app is a citizen science tool hopefully used by the public to contribute to our knowledge of the distribution and abundance of northern bobwhite.
Over 80% of the Bobwhite’s habitat is owned by private landowners. We hope this app helps us work more collaboratively with landowners and the public. The personal information shared on the Bobwhite App will be held anonymously, and will be combined with other bobwhite data to give experts a much better picture of how bobwhite populations are doing, as well as where to focus our habitat restoration efforts across the U.S. Thank you for helping us improve our strategies for conserving Northern Bobwhite, grasslands, and savannas habitats!
Frequently Asked Questions
Download a PDF version of the Bobscapes FAQs
Northern Bobwhite have been experiencing precipitous declines throughout their range. Despite being one of the most well studied birds in North America, wildlife experts still don’t have a good understanding of their distribution. We need everyone’s help in collecting the data needed to better manage habitat for bobwhite and other grassland species in the central and eastern U.S.
In addition to other tools being developed, this new “Bobscapes” Mobile App will help researchers better understand population dynamics and help managers direct resources for habitat work to the areas where those investments will be most effective in recovering the species. Additionally, for those interested, the app will connect landowners to technical experts who can make habitat recommendations and share information on voluntary cost share programs. Lastly, the data provided will assist wildlife biologists in creating a national habitat network of “Bobwhite landscapes” necessary to ensure this species persists for future generations!
Quail Forever (Dr. Jess McGuire jmcguire@quailforever.org), the University of Georgia, G.A.M.E Lab (Dr. James Martin martinj@warnell.uga.edu), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Working Lands for Wildlife (www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/working-lands-for-wildlife), and Ferguson Lynch (fergusonlynch.com).
Anyone that hears or sees wild Northern Bobwhite and is interested in quail conservation and management! We hope to get sightings from every bobwhite state, public and private land.
We are hoping this data will contribute to distribution and habitat modeling projects through UGA that will better inform where we need to focus conservation activities. Location data will be mapped internally for analysis, but at no time will data or maps be shared with the public. Data will be aggregated as “reports per state” in the app and on the website.
Ferguson Lynch and the University of Georgia G.A.M.E Lab will store the data securely. Quail Forever will distribute the data as described to wildlife agency state quail coordinators and Quail Forever private lands biologist. At no time will personal information be available to anyone outside of this project unless the contributor has explicitly asked for more information.
If you answered “yes” to “Do you want more information about Bobwhite?” or “yes” to “Want to learn more about Bobwhite cost share,” your name and email will be shared with a Quail Forever or State Agency private lands biologist so they can reach out to you.
Only the official partners of this project: Quail Forever (Dr. Jess McGuire jmcguire@quailforever.org), the University of Georgia, G.A.M.E Lab (Dr. James Martin martinj@warnell.uga.edu), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Working Lands for Wildlife (www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/working-lands-for-wildlife), and Ferguson Lynch (fergusonlynch.com).
No. The exact location of your submission will not be shared with the public. It won’t even be shared at the county level.
