PRAIRIES/QUAIL, 1: The amazing disappearing 
quail ... where sis they go? We'll tell you ... ahead ... on 
Passport to Texas.

PTT from TPWD and the SFWR Program

Jim Willis owns the 225-acre WW Ranch, about an hour 
west of Houston. When he bought the land in late 1999, it 
was nothing but "improved" grasses, fit only for cattle 
grazing. Over time, he revegetated the parcel with native 
grasses -- like little bluestem and switchgrass.

What we hope to do is increase the amount of wildlife, 
especially of Bob White quail. :05

Parks and Wildlife's quail biologist, Robert Perez, says 
bobwhite quail was once a ubiquitous species in Willis's 
part of the state -- but not anymore.

In the eastern third of the state, east of I-35, quail are 
something of a memory to many folks who grew up in areas 
where they had quail on their farms and quail on their ranches. 
And over the years, the habitat's changed a great deal, and 
many people are asking the question: Where did my quail go? 
..... :15

The answer: quail have moved on to find suitable habitat. 
 
As in most cases when it comes to wildlife, habitat is a limiting 
factor, and that's what's disappeared over much of the Texas 
landscape -- are those elements of habitat that bobwhite need to 
survive. :10

The bobwhite has become a kind of poster child for a 
national effort to restore our vanishing native prairies ... 
and that brings us back to Mr. Willis ... who is building a 
growing coalition of like-minded landowners, dedicated to 
restoring quail habitat. We'll have more on that tomorrow.

That's out show, with support from the SFWR Program ... 
providing funding for the Private Lands and Pubic 
Hunting Program. 

For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.


Total sound bite time:		 0:30.0
Maximum Script time:		 0:55.0 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25