Burger inducted into National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative Hall of Fame
Wes Burger
Wes Burger, director of Mississippi State’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center, has been honored with an induction into the Hall of Fame of the National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative. This prestigious recognition is in tribute to his lifelong dedication and significant contributions to the conservation of one of the South’s most significant gamebirds.
Burger, who is also dean of the university’s College of Forest Resources, has spent decades addressing environmental and economic outcomes regarding quail conservation.
“The National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative has played a crucial role in coordinating research and conservation efforts for northern bobwhite quail and their ecosystems. It has also served as an advocacy group, influencing federal farm policies to create practices that support quail habitats in working landscapes,” Burger said. “It is an honor to be recognized for my work by this dedicated group of conservationists.”
Originally, southeastern states worked independently on quail conservation. In 1995, scientists across the region formed the Southeast Quail Study Group, or SEQSG. Burger, already 10 years into his quail research, was part of the founding meeting. In 1993, he co-authored a chapter on quail conservation in agricultural landscapes for the 3rd National Quail Symposium, laying the groundwork for strategic planning taken up by the SEQSG, which was later renamed the National Bobwhite Technical Committee, or NBTC and eventually the National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative, NBGI.
Burger’s passion for quail conservation began at nine years old, bird hunting with his grandfather in western Kentucky. Growing up as an outdoorsman, he developed a deep connection with nature, leading him to a career in wildlife biology. He has been a member of the National Wildlife Federation since the third grade, showcasing his lifelong dedication to birds.
“I love science and wildlife and especially bobwhites, and I’ve been blessed to be able to combine those interests in my profession. I’ve had the privilege of conducting wildlife research that informs and supports conservation efforts through my work at MSU and with the NGBI. Having the tremendous opportunity to make contributions in each of these areas has hopefully had an impact on wildlife conservation in working landscapes,” Burger said.
Quail are crucial indicators of the health of early successional habitats and fire dependent ecosystems. Despite extensive study, their decline persists, especially in the Southeast. Bobwhite quail, which thrive in grasslands, rangelands and pine grasslands, such as longleaf pine landscapes, are increasingly threatened by habitat loss due to conversion to other land use, expanding urban development, introduction of exotic plants and fire exclusion in fire-dependent systems.
“Humans have the tendency to simplify landscapes, eliminating much of their ecological function. Our goal is not just to create habitat but to shape the composition of working landscapes to make them more resilient and usable for quail and other associated wildlife. Multifunctional landscapes, that include natural components, can produce the food, fiber and fuel we need, while also providing ecological services like clean air and water, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, pollination services, and biodiversity. Bobwhite quail as a species hold ecological, economic, cultural and recreational value that should be retained for future generations. Quail conservation is an ongoing process that requires continuous attention and maintenance,” said Burger.
For more on the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, visit www.fwrc.msstate.edu.
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Erin Buckley | Agriculture and Natural Resources Marketing
