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A primary goal of the NBCI-revision is to develop a system that is spatially and temporally explicit and that which will remain dynamic in nature. We also wanted to provide a means to combine the wealth of geographic data made available by multiple conservation organizations as well as create novel data sets. To organize, design and develop, and maintain such a system Theron M. Terhune, a recent graduate from the University of Georgia, was hired as a post-doctorate.

Since then, the development of a database management system using ArcGIS, a geographic information systems tool, is underway. The first phases of the model was presented to the research committee at the SEQSG meeting (17-18 July 2008) in Lafayette, La. for critique and input, from those attending, to improve the model and to gain insight on its overall usability and acceptance. After positive feedback and approval from the committee, we forged forward with the development of the GIS model using ArcGIS, ArcGIS server, and various programming languages (e.g. Python, Visual Basic) to make the model as user friendly as possible. We developed a graphical user interface (GUI; see Figure ), embedded within and to be used in conjunction with ArcGIS, that was easy to use and rather straight forward; the GUI is merely a way for biologists to provide information about the landscape, needed to update the NBCI, in the context of biologist ranking information (BRI). The BRI is a scale (high, medium, low) prioritizing the landscape with respect to the ability of the habitat to be converted or maintained for bobwhites and early-succession species. Along with this general rank, information in the form of major land use opportunities and constraints are also collected and used to inform the model ascribing biologist insight as to why the habitat received the rank. Collectively, this information is useful to tabulate: priority areas (i.e., focal areas); information germane to policy benefits and needs; current and future land use; and state, region, BCR, or distribution-level habitat opportunities and constraints.

To test the model, its usability and application, we hosted several state-level, “pilot” workshops. These workshops served as a platform to refine the model while simultaneously gathering the aforementioned information (i.e., the BRI) for each state. To date, we have completed 4 “pilot” state workshops: Georgia was the first workshop held (23 September 2008) and others soon followed including Mississippi (5 November), Alabama (17 November) and South Carolina (4 December). Upon completion of each state workshop, we updated our GIS model based on feedback from workshop attendees and created individual and combined state web applications. A final “pilot” workshop is scheduled for Florida. Upon completion of the five pilot workshops and updating of the GIS model based on feedback during the workshops, we will be ready to conduct state workshops more quickly and in a timely fashion as we have streamlined the process. To do so, we plan to begin a workshop “blitzkrieg” where Theron will travel from state to state conducting workshops throughout the distribution of northern bobwhite.

Road Trip 2009
During February 2009, we will start a state workshop blitz to coalesce biologist ranking information for each state within the distribution of the Norhtern Bobwhite Quail. We will host individual state workshops as well as muli-tstate workshops to accomplish our objectives in a timely manner. We will contact and appoint state contacts to aid in organization of the workshops, coordinate workshop venues, and invite attendees.

We plan to start the workshop blitz the first week of February and with ~2 state workshops occurring each week all states within the distribution should be completed by mid-April. To view scheduled workshops and track completed workshops: Click here!

NBCI News

Update - New NBCI Home
The process of establishing the permanent home of the NBCI at the University of Tennessee (UT) is underway. Don McKenzie is currently working closely with UT faculty to determine and take the initial steps to get things rolling.

SEQSG - Chair: Billy Dukes
"I have participated in two of the NBCI Revision Workshops (SC and Georgia), and I have found the ranking process to be straightforward and intuitive. Theron and the rest of the Tall Timbers staff do a great job of coordinating and running the individual workshops, and the preliminary results are available almost instantaneously. The spatially-explicit products offered by this web-based GIS approach to landscape planning will again position the NBCI as a frontrunner in the bird conservation arena."