Facing Unnatural Extinction

Facing Unnatural Extinction
By Joe Matter

As an active member and founder of the newly formed New Jersey Quail Project (NJQP), I make it my business to gather as much information that I can regarding bobwhite quail studies and research. One of my latest finds was a piece by Tom Davis, editor-at-large for Pointing Dog Journal and one who realizes the importance of the bobwhite quail to our natural landscape. Tom’s article “Our Greatest Wildlife Tragedy” appeared in sporting classics.

Reading this most informative piece leaves you with a ump in your throat as the author goes into great details in pointing out the plight of this most popular and beloved game bird. Aside from being totally truthful, Davis points out the acts as they are, no sugar coating, just the facts as disturbing as they are. “Who could have foreseen that the little bobwhite, this brave and handsome bird that brings out the best in dogs and men alike, would be marching toward oblivion” asks Tom, in this most disturbing question. But what I find even more disturbing is the response or better put, the lack there of to do something to save these birds. It would seem to me that many who call themselves sportsmen along with many so called environmental and conservation organizations have ignored the cry for help from Colinus Virginianus, the Northern Bobwhite Quail.

One must legitimately ask, “have these folks lost sight of who they claim to be” and put the desires of a greed driving high tech lifestyle ahead of the fact that this very part of the fabric of our lives is going unnaturally extinct right before our very eyes? The mere thoughts of such blind arrogance by a society of people who classify themselves as being so “green” makes me sick.

According to a study recently released by The National Audubon Society titled “Common Birds in Decline”, the bobwhite quail tops the list of twenty species having declined a whopping 82% since 1967. A decline from an estimated 40 million birds now down to a population of only 5.5 million remaining today. How can something of these epic proportions be ignored?

Could it be that huge populations of white tail deer and turkeys have become the “Cash Cows” on which wildlife agencies survive and thus now take the forefront while pushing the bobwhite to the end of the list s it continues on a high speed course to extinction right before their eyes!!

As Davis questions how is it that there’s always plenty of money available for species that are not in trouble but the species that have a genuine need of funding for programs to secure their very existence go unnoticed if not overlooked altogether. This is appalling!! You’ve probably heard me say before, these words from much wiser men than I, that a society is a mere reflection of the environment in which it exists. Being ever mindful of this most dire situation, hunter, non-hunter, bird watchers, conservations and environmentalist must ask themselves the question, what can we do to help stop this alarming rate of decline and reverse the trend by taking steps now, to insure the future of New Jersey’s bobwhite quail population will increase and not face extinction.

Here’s what a few concerned sportsmen and sportswomen are doing in New Jersey. In March 2007, the New Jersey Quail Project was formed with its mission being as follows:

Mission Statement: It will be the direction and purpose of the New Jersey Quail Project to provide and sustain suitable habitat for quail, education the public and fellow sportsmen and sportswomen about quail habitat and its inhabitants generate and sustain revenue through grants and donations to achieve goals and continue to work with biologists and land managers to provide man power and funding to foster a healthy native population.

The NJQP operations as a committee under the New Jersey Sportsmen’s Wildlife Foundation, Inc. A 591(c)(3) non-profit organization. Since its inception, the NJQP has secured tracts of land, both public and private, for use in quail restoration and habitat projects. The Project has also developed relationships with several bobwhite quail conservation organizations such as Tall Timbers Project, Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative, Quail Forever, Quail Unlimited and are partnering with the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife as well as the University of Delaware research team. Working together with land management professions and biologists as well as RC&D council and Team Habitat professional staff. The NJQP is clearly demonstrating its commitment to its mission by developing solutions and initiatives to reach our goals with suceess. The NJQP is currently applying for grants to fund our projects and is conducting an ongoing search for funding for projects through concerned individuals, clubs and organizations as well as corporate sponsors with an interest in wildlife conservation.

The NJQP is not requesting that you get behind a rake or shovel but is soliciting your monetary support to help us fund necessary habitat restoration projects through your donations. Participation by donors is crucial to the NJQP. Donations no matter how small will be most kindly accepted and will be used responsibly with 100% of all proceeds applied directly to habitat projects. There are no paid personnel and all proceeds will be used exclusively in New Jersey. Donations can be made payable to the NJ Sportsmen’s Wildlife Foundation, Inc. c/o NJQP. Be sure to visit us on our website at www.njquailproject.org or send your contributions to NJQP, PO Box 56, Waretown, NJ 08758.

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