Kansas
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NBCI-Based Initiative In Full Implementation Mode
ansas is in full implementation mode for a new state quail initiative encompassing two massive new quail focal areas announced in April and Jim Pitman, the state’s quail coordinator, expects to begin signing contracts with interested landowners any day.
Kansas is targeting nearly 310,000 acres, split between two focus areas. A 194,911-acre northern focal area includes parts of Lyon, Wabaunsee, Coffey, and Osage counties and has a bobwhite habitat management potential of “high,” as rated in the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI). The core public lands are the 9,407-acre Melvern Wildlife Area and the 562acre Lyon State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area. The 113,711-acre southern focal area includes parts of Labette and Neosho counties. Potential for bobwhite habitat management is rated “medium” by NBCI, but Pitman says that the additional sources of funding and partners available there made it a worthwhile target. Additionally, the public land centerpieces include the new Grand Osage Wildlife Area (formerly the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant) where approximately 9,000 acres will be managed by KDWPT, and the 1,320-acre Big Hill Wildlife Area. Habitat improvements have been under way on those public properties since the announcement and will be used during field days this fall to discuss and
Kansas is targeting nearly 310,000 acres, split between two focus areas
12 • NBCI’s Bobwhite Almanac
illustrate suitable bobwhite habitat, and the types of management activities required to create it, says Pitman. Improvements include planting native grass buffers along agricultural edges, hedge row renovations, prescribed burning, and conversion of cool-season grass to native species. Pitman says they’ve initiated a bobwhite monitoring protocol for those areas, as well as on control