To survive and thrive, quail not only need good nesting and brooding cover, they also need suitable sources of food, brush to escape into and loose dust to maintain their plumage.
As a private land conservationist, Eric Niemeyer works with landowners interested in improving habitat not only for quail, but for all of Missouri's flora and fauna.
Niemeyer, 26, started working for the Missouri Department of Conservation 2½ years ago. Based in the town of California, he helps landowners in Moniteau, Cooper and Cole counties.
"They'll contact me about how to improve their land," he said. "We talk about their goals, and then I'll write up a management plan and offer guidance on how to improve their land. We want to be able to provide them with the technical assistance they need to manage their natural resources."
He often visits their properties, too. Niemeyer's managements plans are provided freely to landowners who inquire.
In the case of quail, his typical advice might be to plant wild plum trees or gray dogwoods. He might also suggest the owner use a chainsaw to remove undesired trees - like cedars - to create brush piles giving birds refuge from lurking predators. And, stands of ragweed - with their tall, bushy fronds and narrow stalks - are helpful to quail, he added. The weed creates open space on the soil beneath, giving the small, weak chicks a place to move freely.
"Quail are an edge species. They like to live in the transition zone between hard wood timber and open grasslands," Niemeyer said.
The department shares the costs of those improvements with landowners, he said.
Some landowners request plans to nurture whitetail deer, turkeys or fur-bearers to improve their chances at hunting and trapping; other landowners just enjoy being surrounded by more wildlife.
"We work with both kinds of personalities," he said.
Born and raised in Montgomery City, Niemeyer said the job is a nice mix of office and outdoor work. No surprise, he enjoys hunting and fishing on his days off.
"I've always been an outdoorsy person with a passion for wildlife," he said. "This is a job I've always wanted and I enjoy coming to it every day."