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

Jeffrey BulerChris Williams

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

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

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
Powered by

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from University of Delaware

2 min

How AI can improve poor leadership writing and boost productivity

Poor written communication from leaders can create the kind of confusion it intended to avoid. University of Delaware career expert Jill Gugino Panté suggests using AI to sharpen emails, clarify expectations and reduce unnecessary calls. Getting through to employees with strong messaging can boost productivity by saving time and reducing unwanted meetings, she says. Panté, director of UD's Lerner Career Services Center, says that good leadership writing should be direct and outcome-driven, with no fluff, and offered the following advice for improvement. ✅ Don’t bury the lead. Start with what decision needs to be made, what action is required, and the deadline. If your writing doesn’t reduce ambiguity, it’s going to add to it. Vague communication can create interpretation gaps which, in turn, can create more meetings. When ownership isn’t defined, decisions aren’t documented, or outcomes aren’t clear, teams default to “Let’s hop on a call.” Meetings then become the fallback for unclear thinking. ✅ Generative AI can be a powerful clarity tool if it’s used intentionally. When used well, it can sharpen your ask and structure communication for action. The key is prompting it to refine your message, not just polish it. Leaders can use prompts like: • “Rewrite this message so the action, owner, deadline, and success metrics are explicitly stated" • “What assumptions or ambiguities exist in this message?” ✅ Good writing can replace unnecessary meetings. If communication is not direct, outcome-driven, and structured for action, it will cost you time somewhere else. Here are some practical actions that leaders can make in their writing: • Start with the Ask - Be explicit about what decision or action is needed. Don’t make people search for it. • Define Outcomes - Clarify deliverables, timelines, budgets and state what success looks like. • Clarify Ownership - Identify who is responsible for the request. • Document Decisions - Write down what has been decided and reiterate next steps, owners, and deadlines. To connect with Panté directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the "contact" button. Interested media can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

1 min

Epidemiologist: Winter Olympics fortunate to dodge norovirus outbreak

Finland's Olympic women's hockey team overcame a norovirus scare last week, but they couldn't get past Team USA, who shut them out 5-0 Saturday in Milan. The University of Delaware's Jennifer Horney can discuss the difficult-to-contain virus, which also hit the Winter Games in 2018. - Horney, a professor of epidemiology at UD, said that the outbreak –  which forced Finland to cancel its first game after 13 players had either been infected or quarantined – is not surprising. Norovirus spreads rapidly in crowded environments through direct contact with surfaces or airborne droplets. - It is difficult to limit the spread of norovirus, as witnessed by the major outbreak that spread at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. - Consideration is often given for the potential of these types of outbreaks being intentional, which requires public health to work closely with law enforcement. To reach Horney directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the "contact" button. Interested journalists can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

1 min

How ACL injury derailed Lindsey Vonn's heroic return to Olympic competition

An ACL rupture couldn't keep skiier Lindsey Vonn off the slopes to start this week's Olympics. But according to the University of Delaware's Dr. Karin Silbernagel, the injury likely contributed to her inability to land safely Sunday on the downhill course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The crash ended her heroic return to competition Dr. Silbernagel, a professor of physical therapy, studies tendon injuries in the ankle and knee in elite athletes, especially Achilles ruptures and ankle function. She was quoted in an ESPN story about the rash of such injuries in the NBA and can specifically address the impact they could have on competition now and for the rest of an athlete's career. Her research shows that even after successful surgery, many athletes return to competition but not many among them return to peak explosiveness or durability. The impact a major injury would have on a fresh injury like Vonn's is obvious, she said. Dr. Silbernagel's research on ankle and knee injuries dates back to the early 2000s. She consults with professional sports teams relating to tendon injuries and is a consultant to the NFL's Musculoskeletal Committee. To connect directly with Dr. Silbernagel and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click the "contact" button. Interested members of the media can also send an email to MediaRelatons@udel.edu.

View all posts
Powered by