Quail

A collection of 53 posts

Bio-Diversity

New Year's Greetings from Far-West Texas

A 1-week family gathering in far-West Texas between Christmas and New Year’s is a family tradition. New Year weather can be fair, or brutal. Our best 2014 ranch investment was our standby generator system: We were snug in a weeklong storm.     New Year 2015 from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.

circle-ranch-about

Thanksgiving Greetings from Circle Ranch

Circle Ranch and the Gill family extend our best wishes to you and yours this holiday season. Here is a short video that captures highlights of our Thanksgiving week.       Holiday Greetings from Circle Ranch from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands: A Video Comparison of Cattle, Water Harvesting and Keyline as a Safer, Cheaper and Faster Alternative to Spike

Here is a well-intentioned but ill-advised project for “restoration” of desert grasslands.   The Rest of The Story…   BLM is spending $30 million on 500,000 acres: $60 an acre.  The objective is to kill all creosote and mesquite; thereafter, the staffers propose to use fire to “maintain the landscape.” Bad

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands: Yeomans Keyline Subsoiling Results at the Circle Ranch, August 2014

Here is a cheap, fast, environmentally-friendly alternative to range poisoning with herbicides. When combined with holistic planned grazing of cattle, and a diverse population of wild animals, this practice leads to rapid conversion of subsoil to topsoil, increases soil fertility,  improves and restores water function, and, is sustainable. Beginning in

Bighorn

Mule Deer, Desert Bighorn and Quail

Here are two videos which show the interaction and mutual dependence of wild species. In this case, large herbivores and desert quail. Many species of animals – big and small – are coming to water, alfalfa and salt. These include the deer and sheep shown in the videos… …and cattle, aoudad, burros,

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Game Cameras: May 2014

“Competition” or Cooperation?   Here are links to some great pictures of many species sharing water and habitat at the Circle Ranch. Several of the species photographed such as the aoudad and bighorn pictured above,  are said by game ‘managers’ to be incompatible. ‘Exotics’, these ‘experts’ say, harm bighorn, deer, pronghorn,

Aoudad

Circle Ranch Game Cameras: March 15, 2014

Here are links to some great pictures of many species sharing water and habitat at the Circle Ranch.  Several, like aoudad and bighorn, are thought to be hostile to each other, and incompatible:  That belief is wrong, as these photos show. Diablo Peak:   Sheep Tank:   Tres Papalotes:   Bezos Fenceline:   Oncie

Animal Growth

The Forgotten Quail Decline: Plight of the Scaled Quail

When it comes to the quail decline in Texas, the northern bobwhite often dominates the spotlight. Much of this focus probably is due to the long-standing tradition and relative ease of bobwhite hunting. Unfortunately, the bobwhite decline often overshadows the decline of another important quail species in Texas—the scaled

"Invasion Biology"

Bad News for Range and Wildlife Science: An “F” Grade for America’s Elite Colleges

American Council of Trustees and Alumni vice president of policy Michael Poliakoff on the state of the country’s most prestigious liberal arts colleges. NOTE: this originally appeared on WSJ Live Online on 1/28/2014       America’s Colleges Flunk Out   If we wonder why our wildlife management practices have

"Invasion Biology"

Creosote Bush: An Unassuming But Ancient Form of Life All Around Us

Though sometimes regarded as a nuisance by residents of the arid Southwest, the creosote bush is a complex and fascinating plant – and creosote colonies constitute some of the oldest organisms known to inhabit the planet. The shrub-like plant’s scientific name is Larrea tridentata, and it is known by many

Animal Development

Regarding Holechek and Briske, and Rebuttals by Teague, Gill & Savory

Correcting Misconceptions about the Supposed Discrediting of Savory’s Approach By Seth J. Itzkan Planet-TECH Associates Somerville, MA. 02144 www.planet-tech.com seth.@planet-tech.com June 2011. Updated May, 2013 Abstract This paper investigates the grazing management assessment reports authored by Briske (2008), and Holechek (2000) in light of their

Cattle

Cows and Quail (Food)

Circle Ranch is in the high-mountain deserts of far-West Texas, where we get about 11 inches of rainfall annually. Generally, our lower country like this desert is very dry, but the ranch has big draws that run throughout it which  create unique ecosystems in a very dry area.  Much of

Bio-Diversity

Spring Scenes at Circle Ranch

It is springtime at Circle… Here we are moving 150 head into the sacaton down in the desert where they will spend the next few weeks before leaving the ranch in late June. She is browsing on fourwing saltbush. Wildlifers and stockmen consider this to be one of the desert’

Bio-Diversity

Cows & Quail

Cows and Quail was a successful presentation on the use of domestic animals to help wildlife and habitat.  39 ranchers managing 530,000 acres attended. Here is a summary of the event: Cows and Quail Program – 2012 from Pitchstone Waters Here is an excellent article on how to use cows

Quail

Gambel's Quail, July 2010

Here are Gambel’s Quail photographed at Circle in summer, 2010.       The Gambel’s Quail, Callipepla gambelii, is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. It inhabits the desert regions of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah,Texas, and Sonora; also New Mexico-border Chihuahua and the

Grazing

Rain in the Desert: July 6, 2010

At Circle Ranch, Hudspeth County, far-West Texas,  we get 11″ average rainfall per year. This is 1/2 the normal rainfall in Laredo where much of our Texas Scaled Quail research has been done.  Moreover, West Texas rains, unlike Laredo rains, come mostly in July and August.   South Texas blues

Quail

Desert Quail and Water

Many quail experts say desert quail do not need water. Maybe so, but here is the ‘rest of the story’

Quail

Winter Feeding Habits of West Texas Desert Quail

Circle Ranch biologist Mark Tyson and Son Adjust a Game Camera at Quail Feed-Block Station, July 2010

Quail

Students of Quail From a Broad Range of Backgrounds: QuailMasters 2010 Visited Circle Ranch June 7, 2010.

In this scene we are examining a burn/graze comparison site.

Photos

Dale Rollins and Chris Gill

QuailMasters 2010 Visit to Circle Ranch, June 7, 2010

Grazing

Thoughts on Desert Quail and Desert Grazing Offered by Steve Nelle, June 7, 2010

Steve Nelle is highly-respected range and wildlife scientist who works for NRCS.

Quail

Gambels Quail

Here are Gambel’s Quail photographed at Circle in spring, 2010

Quail

Quail and Wildlife Waterer

Circle has over 100 of these small-animal waterers. They are made by Surber Tank Company, Odessa, Texas.

Richard Gill on Predator Control

Richard Gill on Predator Control

Our youngest son Richard is in the real estate business in San Antonio. He is a Circle owner.

Agrilife Extension Service (Texas A&M System)

QuailMasters Graduation Photo: King Ranch October 27, 2009

QuailMasters is a joint presentation of Texas Wildlife Association and Agrilife Extension Service (Texas A&M System).