"This is a goal that we have been working for ever since the refuge was established more than 13 years ago," said Wayne Shifflett, Refuge Manager. "It would not have been possible without the tremendous cooperation of several Mexican ranchers and the state and federal governments of Mexico who have been working closely with the Fish and Wildlife Services Regional Office in Albuquerque and the Buenos Aires NWR staff."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has maintained an ongoing working relationship with the Mexican Government and Mexican ranchers for several decades. The Camou family on the El Carrizo Ranch granted Service personnel the opportunity to remove masked Bobwhites from their ranch since the early 1960s, which resulted in the present captive propagation and release programs on the Refuge. Over the years the cooperation continued and management strategies have been implemented to improve masked bobwhite habitat on approximately 80,000 acres of grassland. This year improved weather conditions and outstanding cooperation from all partners made it possible to attempt the first capture and release effort of its kind.
Originally, the plan was to capture 140 birds, translocating 40 birds to other ranches in Mexico, and bringing 100 birds to the refuge. Plans were to release 60 birds on the Refuge and keep 40 birds to add to the captive gene pool on the refuge. However, due to the drought and difficulty in trapping the quail, all birds are to be released on the Refuge to increase breeding potential during the next mating season, probably between mid-July and August. Two birds will be radio-tagged to track their movements after release.
"I am very proud of every one involved in this remarkable recovery effort," said Nancy Kaufman, Regional Director of the Fish and Wildlife Services Southwest Region. "It has been a pleasure working with partners south of the border who have been instrumental in this praiseworthy endeavor. I hope we can expand on this and other collaborative efforts for the future of wildlife conservation.
Historically, the Altar Valley in southern Arizona was home to the now endangered masked bobwhite quail. These birds began to disappear around the end of the 19th century because of overgrazing and drought. Mesquite and introduced grasses invaded the landscape, crowding out native grasses the quail needed. The masked bobwhite was originally listed as endangered in 1966, and, since then, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has pursued intensive efforts to reestablish a sizable population of the subspecies.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts.
