Quail are a family thing for the Williamson brothers, recipients of this year's NBGI Fire Bird Conservation Award for South Carolina. Dr. Bright Williamson and Keith Williamson are pivotal landowners in SC Bobwhite Initiative's mission to restore wild quail in South Carolina. For many years these brothers have worked with the SCDNR, Clemson Extension, and NRCS staff to improve the quality of quail and shrubland bird habitat on their properties.
Bright has had several CRP and CSP contracts, and both brothers have had several EQIP contracts over the years. There use of these farm bill programs has allowed local biologist to show surrounding landowners the benefits of using these programs to better the land. In addition, Keith has hosted a Clemson Extension Wild Quail Seminar and a portion of the Clemson Extension Quail Management Webinar on his property. The brothers have also allowed UGA with the help of SCDNR and Quail Forever to monitor their properties (with ARU’s and in-person) to study the effectiveness of the EQIP practices.
The Williamsons have been earlier adopters of a variety conservation practices and continue to keep what’s best for the land front of mind. They are advocates for the financial and cultural benefits of managing your land for wild quail. They attend Quail Forever Chapter meetings and other local events to speak to other landowners about what they could be doing to better their land for quail and other shrubland species.
These guys embody everything that landowners can do to help bring back the whistle in our state and we are both fortunate and proud to have them working with us.
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