Featured Post from University of Delaware

The Return of the Quail: How Conservation Efforts are Bringing Back a Once-Extinct Bird in Pennsylvania

Apr 3, 2024

2 min

Over the next three years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the University of Delaware and other partners will release about 100 northern bobwhite quail per year on Letterkenny Army Depot in southern Pennsylvania. The birds have been considered eradicated for at least 20 years in the area.

Chris Williams, a professor of wildlife ecology and the director of the Waterfowl and Upland Gamebird Center, is the lead investigator on the project.

“When we think about the greater concerns about wildlife biodiversity and conservation and changing environments, to see extinctions occur in such a short time frame is scary,” Williams said. “And it’s really exciting when we can take chances to try to find a way to bring them back and make sure it’s a long term success.”

The researchers hope to help the state’s quail population rebound and evaluate what can be learned from how they acclimate and apply it to similar projects. Two University of Delaware graduate students will work with the researchers to study the quail reintroduction and how songbirds at the site react to it. Each bird has been equipped with a radio transmitter so the researchers can track their movement and survival on the landscape.

More than 70 bobwhite quail have been released at the site in recent weeks, including the release of 50 bobwhite quail during a March 19 event.

Jeffrey Buler, a professor of wildlife ecology and the co-principal investigator on the project, said other bird species are also an important focus of this project.

To arrange an interview with Buler or Williams on this topic, click their “View Profile” buttons.

Connect with:

Jeffrey Buler

Professor, Wildlife Ecology

Prof. Buler's current research focuses on radar biology, avian ecology and migration, landscape ecology, and conservation biology.

Bird MigrationRadar AeroecologyLandscape EcologySpecies Distribution ModelingStopover Ecology

Chris Williams

Professor, Wildlife Ecology

Prof. Williams serves as Director of the Waterfowl and Upland Gamebird Center.

ZoologyGame Bird EcologyWildlife EcologyWaterfowl EcologyBird Populations and Habitats

Find Experts

Oct 9, 2026

2 min

Experts on Hurricane Preparedness, Public Health and Community Recovery

When hurricanes threaten communities already facing social and economic challenges, the need for effective disaster preparedness and response becomes even more critical. University of Delaware disaster research experts can discuss the challenges communities face before, during and after hurricanes, including Hurricane Isaias and its potential impacts across Alabama, Mississippi, the Florida Panhandle and other parts of the northern Gulf Coast. The following experts from UD's Disaster Research Center are available to discuss the public health consequences of hurricanes, disaster preparedness and community recovery. Sarah DeYoung, associate professor of sociology and criminal justice, can discuss the needs of refugee and immigrant communities before, during and after disasters, including challenges accessing information, assistance and essential resources. She worked for several years with refugee and immigrant communities in southern Alabama through a grant-funded project. Jennifer Horney, professor of epidemiology, can discuss the public health consequences of hurricanes and other disasters, including evacuation decisions, the risks posed by inland flooding and the challenges communities face during recovery. She was part of the public health response to Hurricane Harvey and can discuss how communities still recovering from major storms may face additional challenges when another hurricane threatens the region. Jennifer Trivedi, associate professor of anthropology, studies how disasters affect marginalized communities. She can discuss how disasters compound existing challenges for people struggling to meet basic needs, particularly when flooding disrupts housing, transportation, food access and other essential services. Tricia Wachtendorf, co-director of the Disaster Research Center, can discuss the social impacts of hurricanes and inland flooding, including evacuation, preparedness, community response and recovery. She can also discuss how storms that are not the most powerful can nonetheless cause significant damage and disruption. To reach these experts directly, visit their ExpertFile profile and click on the "contact" button. Interested journalists can also contact MediaRelations@udel.edu.

Sep 25, 2026

1 min

How should journalists cover politics when democracy is at stake

Political coverage often centers on the president, but according to the University of Delaware’s Dannagal Young, journalists can sometimes provide more meaningful coverage by focusing more on democracy and less on the commander in chief’s every movement. Young calls this approach “democracy-centered reporting.” Instead of treating every presidential announcement or provocative statement as the central event, democracy-centered reporting asks how political actions affect democratic institutions, constitutional principles and Americans’ ability to exercise their rights as citizens, Young says. Young, professor of communication and director of UD’s Center for Political Communication, says “access journalism” has an important role, but an overreliance on access can also make political leaders the organizing principle of coverage. In moments when executive power is expanding, she argues, journalists should consider whether their coverage is inadvertently amplifying the power they are trying to scrutinize. Young can discuss: • How journalists can cover presidents without making the president the center of every story • The benefits and risks of access journalism • How coverage of political conflict affects public understanding of democracy To arrange an interview with Young, visit her profile and click on the "contact" button. Interested reporters can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

Sep 24, 2026

1 min

Public health risks after a major flood

Floodwaters may recede quickly, but the health consequences of a major disaster can last for months or even years, says University of Delaware epidemiologist Jennifer Horney. Horney, an expert in disaster recovery and public health, can discuss the longer-term health challenges communities face after major flooding events, including the Aug. 26 flash floods in Nepal that resulted in 1,450 deaths, with 6,000 people still missing. Horney can talk about: • How damage to health infrastructure can make it more difficult for people to access medical care after a disaster, and what communities can do to prepare for and reduce longer-term health consequences following flooding and other disasters. • How contaminated water and food can increase the risk of infectious disease, and how standing water left behind by floods can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as dengue, malaria, encephalitis and chikungunya. • The impact disasters have on physical and mental health well after the immediate emergency has passed. To arrange an interview, visit Horney's profile and click on the contact button. Interested reporters can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

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