EP. 370: Pollinators, Quail, and Wild Foods from the Desert

As Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever celebrate Grasslands Week and Pollinator Week, this conversation explores the critical relationship between healthy habitat, thriving pollinator populations, and strong upland bird numbers. From pheasant chicks and bobwhite quail to Gambel's quail and prairie grouse, the insects supported by flowering plants provide the protein young birds need to survive and grow.

Habitat Education Programs Manager Marissa Jensen joins former PF & QF’s Southwest Regional Representative Lauren Stamm to discuss why pollinator habitat and brood habitat are exactly one and the same. The conversation also heads into the desert, where Lauren shares her passion for hunting, foraging, and creating wild game meals inspired by the landscapes she hunts.

Listeners will learn how prickly pear fruit supports desert wildlife, why Gambel's quail depend on these unique ecosystems, and how to turn wild-foraged prickly pear into a simple syrup that pairs perfectly with grilled quail. Along the way, the discussion explores conservation, public lands, raising the next generation of hunters, and the lessons children learn through time spent outdoors.

Whether you're passionate about upland bird hunting, bird dogs, pollinators, habitat conservation, wild game cooking, or simply becoming a more connected outdoors enthusiast, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on the landscapes that sustain both wildlife and hunters.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Show notes

• Help Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make a positive impact for the birds, the bees, and people by becoming a PF member at www.PheasantsForever.org/join and/or a QF member at www.QuailForever.org/join.

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