Page 10 - 2023NovDec

Northern Bobwhite in Oklahoma: How Did We Get Here?
By Tell Judkins, Upland Game Wildlife Biologist

Northern

Bobwhite in

Oklahoma:

How Did We

Get Here? CARMON MERRIMAN BRIGGS/READERS' PHOTO SHOWCASE 2020

By Tell Judkins, Habitat and weather, habitat and weather. some pretty wild weather. I also think we can
Raise your hand if you’re tired of hearing agree that our state is wildly diverse not only
Upland Game someone go on and on about habitat and in our wildlife but also in their unique habitats.
weather. It seems any time quail are men- Everything from swamps to sand dunes, alliga-
Wildlife tioned, the conversation always leads back to tor to pronghorn call Oklahoma home. There
habitat and weather. What if for once we said are even a handful of animals that no matter
Biologist something different? the wild landscape of the state you find your-
Or what if we just did a whole article about self in, they are there as well… or at least they
habitat and weather? At least then you’d know used to be.
what to expect! Cue the Northern bobwhite (Colinus virgin-
With temperatures from negative dou- ianus, for the fellow bird-nerds), a little brown
ble-digits to well over 100 degrees F, floods bird/delicacy beloved by, well, just about
to droughts, and hail to snow and ice, I don’t every Okie. Most of us have a story involving
think anyone would argue that Oklahoma has a bobwhite, whether that be a grandpa’s hunt-

8 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA