Two Quail Forever Chapters, One Pheasants Forever Chapter Form in California
Pheasants Forever 03.07.14
Chapters will use funds to improve habitat for upland wildlife and outdoor youth education
California is home to two new Quail Forever (QF) chapters and one new Pheasants Forever (PF) chapter. Residents from San Diego County formed the San Diego QF chapter, Bakersfield residents formed the South Valley QF chapter, while residents from Plumas County formed the Indian Valley PF chapter. The groups are dedicated to habitat improvements which benefit upland birds, waterfowl, deer and other local wildlife as well as being focused on getting today’s youth outdoors.
“What’s happening across California for quail and pheasants is very exciting if you care about the state’s upland wildlife,” says Dan Connelly, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s California and Nevada regional field representative. “Individuals and communities are making upland wildlife and outdoor education a priority here, and because of the improvements made, all Californians and Nevadans benefit through clean water and air, increased wildlife, open spaces, and a more vibrant and engaged youth community.
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever empower local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. This local control allows members to see the fruits of their chapter efforts in their own communities while belonging to a national organization with a voice on federal conservation policy in Washington, D.C as well as state conservation issues.
Quail Forever, the leader in quail conservation efforts, was formed on August 10, 2005 by Pheasants Forever to address the loss of quail habitat and the subsequent quail population decline across the U.S. quail range. Quail Forever utilizes the same model that has allowed Pheasants Forever’s 600 chapters and 127,000 members to accomplish over 474,000 habitat projects across the country since its formation in 1982.
The San Diego Quail Forever chapter elected Kirt Gilliland as president, Jack Bransford as vice president, David Preddy as treasurer, Dennis Richards as habitat chair, and Grant Stencil as secretary.
The South Valley Quail Forever chapter elected Rusty Stone as president, Andre Lichtenstein as treasurer, and Dave Hardt as habitat chair.
The Indian Valley Pheasants Forever chapter elected Beverly Hardesty as president, Jon Robinson as vice president, Marsha Chronister as treasurer, John Holland as habitat chair, Karen VanZandt as banquet chair, and Sharol Robinson as co-banquet chair.
California is home to eight Pheasants Forever chapters, eight Quail Forever chapters, and combined, nearly 2,000 PF/QF members. For more information on “The Habitat Organization” in California, please contact Dan Connelly at 702-606-6775 or email Dan.
Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August of 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. Bobwhite population losses over the last 25 years range from 60 to 90 percent across the country. The reason for the quail population plunge is simple - massive losses of habitat suitable for quail. There are five major factors leading to the losses of quail habitat; intensified farming and forestry practices, succession of grassland ecosystems to forests, overwhelming presence of exotic grasses like fescue that choke out wildlife, and urban sprawl.
