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Improving Woodcock and Quail Habitat on the Delmarva Peninsula and in Southern Maryland

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Developing new collaborations in the Atlantic Flyway 

by Ben Larson, Mid-Atlantic Forest Conservation Director 

During my time at RGS & AWS, I’ve focused on heavily forested parts of the Mid-Atlantic, including northern Pennsylvania, western Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. However, for the last year and a half, I’ve started to develop partnerships and projects in the partly forested parts of the region, particularly the Delmarva Peninsula (an abbreviation of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia) and southern Maryland (southeast of Washington, D.C.). 

The reason is simple: for migrating woodcock, the Delmarva Peninsula and southern Maryland provide critical stopover habitats along the Atlantic Flyway. The American Woodcock Conservation Plan, developed in 2008 by the Woodcock Task Force through the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, emphasizes that in the Mid-Atlantic portions of the Atlantic Flyway, “stopover habitats available as feeding covers are critically important to migrating woodcock.” 

Comprised of an equal mix of farmland and forestland, the Delmarva Peninsula and southern Maryland are similar to southern New Jersey and the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions of Virginia and the Carolinas.  

Integration With Our New AWS Forest Conservation Director and AWS Chapters

Our woodcock habitat work in the Delmarva Peninsula and in southern Maryland will augment the work of our new Carolina Coastal Plain and Piedmont Forest Conservation Director, Sara Cerv, and our RGS & AWS chapters. Habitat restoration and management efforts in the Carolinas will prioritize the establishment and maintenance of early successional forests, providing critical wintering grounds for woodcock.  

In southern New Jersey, our Jersey Shore RGS & AWS chapter has completed woodcock projects for years with New Jersey Fish and Wildlife. Our Central Maryland chapter members are involved in our southern Maryland collaboration, eager to roll up their sleeves to help with a habitat project. I’m excited to work2 with our new Piedmont Virginia RGS & AWS chapter on habitat projects. And, with Emily Sliski, our Mid-Atlantic engagement coordinator, we look forward to forming am RGS & AWS chapter on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Complementing Quail Habitat 

Our woodcock habitat work will complement ongoing quail habitat work. When I spoke with partners about my interest in woodcock habitat in these areas, they said I should connect with Quail Forever because quail hunters often flush woodcock. And, more broadly, the increasing recognition of the need to diversify forest habitats in Maryland grew out of the well-established consensus and collaboration to improve early successional habitats in grass-based ecosystems, primarily for quail, but also for nongame birds and other wildlife.  

Quail share a need for dense woody cover – either shrubs or saplings. While quail obviously need a mosaic of native, fire-maintained, warm season grasses and fields, they also need dense brush or thick stands of young trees for escape and thermal cover during winter. The quail community in Maryland has identified the lack of shrubs and stands of young trees as one of the critical challenges quail are facing, despite significant progress on promoting and establishing warm season grasses in focal areas.  

With interested landowners, we’ll establish shrubs and early successional stands of trees mostly through plantings, but also with some management of existing stands. With the University of Maryland (UMD) Extension and the Maryland Forest Service, we’ll promote the planting of eligible shrubs and small trees through Maryland’s 5 Million Trees Initiative. 

Though we’ll work with state and county agencies that own and manage lands for habitat, our work on the Delmarva Peninsula and southern Maryland will focus on private lands, which are critically important since most of the land in the region is owned by private landowners. To deliver technical and financial assistance to private landowners, we’re meeting with landowners and connecting with Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff, Soil & Water Conservation Districts, and foresters and farm managers.  

New Funding 

Thankfully, our approach has attracted partnerships and funding. We partnered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDDA) on a $500,000 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant to improve habitats for rare and declining species on working lands across the state – an unusual example of coordinated assistance for farmland and forestland. RGS & AWS will receive about $100,000 to assist private landowners with forest management in one of our three landscape-scale projects.  

Along with the Maryland Forest Service, we and other partners will help implement a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service, made possible with Inflation Reduction Act funding, to plan for landowner outreach for three landscape-scale focal projects.

In western Maryland, RGS & AWS is helping The Nature Conservancy plan and implement a dynamic forest restoration block around Jennings Randolph Lake and Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA); Tall Timbers will lead planning and implementation of their landscape-scale project in the northern areas of the Marshyhope watershed; and in southern Maryland, RGS & AWS and the UMD Extension will coordinate landscape-scale projects along the Patuxent River.  

Landscape-Scale Quail and Woodcock Projects Work on the Delmarva Peninsula and in Southern Maryland

On the Delmarva Peninsula, Tall Timber’s game bird biologist and prescribed fire coordinator Kyle Magdziuk, UMD Extension’s Luke Macaulay, Quail Forever, the Delaware Department of Environmental Control and Natural Resources, the Delaware Forest Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) are working on several focal projects on public and private lands, including a landscape-scale collaboration, promoting the use of prescribed fire, in the Marshyhope watershed, crossing the Maryland/Delaware line and connecting Taber State Forest in Delaware and Idylwild WMA in Maryland.   

In southern Maryland, we’re building on the remarkable vision and skill of Quail Forever’s first ever national volunteer of the year, Eddie Beck, who, in partnership with Macaulay, pulled together dozens of county and state agency staff and conservation organizations to develop a collaboration along the Patuxent River, which roughly bisects southern Maryland. Going forward, RGS & AWS will provide ongoing staff support to coordinate the collaboration, which includes Prince George’s County Soil Conservation District, UMD Extension, MDNR, MDDA and others.  

Our work with Quail Forever on the Delmarva Peninsula and in southern Maryland is an example of how we can successfully implement our April 2024 Memorandum of Understanding with Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever that seeks to “join conservation networks and build capacity for impactful solutions at a landscape scale for management-dependent species.”  

Within the large watershed of the lower Patuxent, we and partners will identify four to five focal areas, usually anchored by a county or state property, and focus our outreach on nearby private landowners. We also look forward to applying woodcock migration data to help identify critical habitats in this portion of the Atlantic Flyway.

Chapter Spotlight – Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapters

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by Emily Sliski, RGS & AWS Mid-Atlantic Engagement Coordinator

What began as two chapters supporting the mission of RGS & AWS has become one incredibly impactful collaboration in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The Charles E. Bechtel Chapter is a historic chapter within RGS & AWS. “The Bechtel Chapter was started to raise funds for RGS & AWS for the oldest volunteer-run fundraising banquet,” said John Cave, chapter president. “Our 47 years of being a chapter shows the dedication of the committee, the chapter founders and the many men and women who’ve made the chapter so special.”

The South Mountain Chapter has experienced several waves of leadership, making their history a bit more challenging to track. “We have a storied history back before the current crew restarted in 2004,” said committee member Jan Christen.

Fortunately, current President Troy Leid has been involved for nearly a decade. “Back then, I was just looking to be part of a chapter, to interact with others who are passionate about woodcock and grouse hunting, to share stories and make friendships with others who love bird dogs. What I found on top of that were individuals who were really dedicated to raising money for and advancing the mission of conservation.”

While it’s important to recognize individual pasts, it’s the future of these chapters that’s so inspiring. “One thing that’s allowed us to continue our service has been our ability to adapt,” said John Cave.

To benefit both chapters, chapter leaders decided on a collaborative banquet instead of holding individual struggling events. “The rest is history,” said Christen. “We’re much stronger together. Our circle of influence is larger, our enthusiasm is higher, our revenue is higher and our impact on habitat is larger.”

The chapters now function under the collective Southeastern PA Chapters. Beyond their annual conservation banquet, they host a successful fundraising shoot, a seafood fest, Birds and Brew, Shoot and Brew, annual ticket raffles, host a booth at a local youth hunting and fishing day and hold a marquee habitat field day, which merges education and outreach with tree planting. Dave Henry, the habitat chair, spearheads the field day and all chapter habitat efforts. “With attendance of 50 people at each field day, the chapter’s time and effort has helped educate the public about wildlife and their habitats,” said Henry.

Since their partnership began, approximately $44,000 of RGS & AWS funds (chapter funds leveraged alongside PA Drummer Funds) have provided access for the management of 2,400 acres of young forest habitat across three regional state game lands. Ben Larson, Mid-Atlantic forest conservation director, often points to the southeastern chapters as a prime example of how local chapters can navigate local relations with public land agencies, leading to high-impact habitat for grouse, woodcock and other forest wildlife.

What’s next for these chapters-in-partnership? “Our focus now is reaching the next generation of conservationists,” said Christen. “All RGS & AWS members and grouse hunters need to ask themselves, ‘If not us, then who?’ Conservation and creation of heathy diverse forests are the only thing that can save our beloved sport for future generations wanting to chase the King and Prince of the woods.”

Emily Sliski is the RGS & AWS Mid-Atlantic regional engagement coordinator. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Johnathan, and two Springer Spaniels, Fern and Wild. 

New Eastern Ruffed Grouse Conservation Plan Aims to Restore Populations

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The Eastern Grouse Working Group (EGWG), a collective of state and provincial wildlife agency biologists, has developed a strategic plan to guide ruffed grouse recovery in the eastern half of their range. The newly released Eastern Ruffed Grouse Conservation Plan (ERGCP) 2025-2034 outlines critical actions for habitat restoration and conservation efforts over the next decade.

While ruffed grouse are non-migratory, their survival depends on large-scale habitat restoration. Conservation success in one state or province alone is not enough to ensure the long-term stability of ruffed grouse populations across the region. A coordinated, multi-state effort will provide greater ecological, social and economic benefits than isolated habitat management efforts.

Two Decades of Conservation Planning

The ERGCP builds on nearly 20 years of planning. In 2006, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Resident Game Bird Working Group endorsed a Ruffed Grouse Conservation Plan aimed at restoring populations to 1980 levels. Despite this plan, ruffed grouse populations have continued to decline in the eastern region. This prompted state wildlife agency biologists to call for a more strategic, coordinated initiative.

In January 2021, a planning workshop was held to evaluate the biological, social, political and economic conditions affecting ruffed grouse. From this effort, the EGWG identified Desired Future Conditions (DFCs), Current Conditions (CCs), gaps between them, and the barriers and opportunities to closing those gaps. This framework helped guide the development of the new conservation plan.

High-Priority Actions

During a strategic planning workshop in October 2023, EGWG members and key partners identified 21 priority actions necessary to achieve conservation goals. The highest-priority actions include:

• Evaluating the current distribution of quality grouse habitat using standardized methods.
• Identifying priority areas for habitat management based on biological and socio-economic factors.
• Developing and implementing forest ecosystem diversity plans in priority areas.
• Securing and allocating resources for effective grouse habitat management.
• Addressing resource gaps and barriers that hinder conservation efforts.

A Collaborative Approach

No single agency or organization has the resources to implement the ERGCP alone. However, strategic collaboration between states, provinces and conservation partners will create highly effective partnerships and conservation outcomes. Through coordinated efforts, ruffed grouse populations can be stabilized and improved across their eastern range.

The full Eastern Ruffed Grouse Conservation Plan 2025-2034 is available for review and provides detailed strategies for achieving long-term conservation success. Together, we can advance landscape-scale conservation efforts and secure the future of ruffed grouse.

Source: Reina Tyl, Wildlife Biologist – Grouse & Woodcock Program Specialist

Pennsylvania Game Commission | Bureau of Wildlife Management

West Virginia Grouse Survey Discontinued – New Opportunities to Contribute

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The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) recently discontinued their grouse-specific hunter survey due to limited participation. Although this was a difficult decision, the data was no longer providing valuable insights for wildlife management. However, hunters still have opportunities to support conservation efforts.

WVDNR encourages hunters to participate in two ongoing surveys: the Bowhunter Survey and the Spring Gobbler Survey. These citizen science surveys collect essential data on wildlife, helping shape conservation strategies across West Virginia and the broader Southern Appalachians region.

Even if you don’t hunt grouse, your observations as a bowhunter or turkey hunter can make a significant impact. Visit the WVDNR website to learn more about these surveys and how you can contribute:

WVDNR Citizen Science Surveys

By taking part, you contribute to the larger picture of wildlife management in the Southern Appalachians region. Together, we can ensure the health of these ecosystems for future generations.

Habitat Improvements at Jennings Randolph Lake

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by Ben Larson, RGS & AWS Forest Conservation Director – Mid-Atlantic

In western Maryland, the Backbone Mountain Chapter and RGS & AWS staff have been working for over a decade to improve forest habitats through collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at Jennings Randolph Lake (JRL), a flood-control reservoir that straddles the West Virginia and Maryland border, and with private landowners nearby.

John Denning, habitat chair of the chapter, explained how that the partnership evolved out of the generous time that JRL staff invested in the Handicapped Hunter program. “We figured they might be active and willing partners that RGS could team up with and support in their efforts to improve upon important wildlife habitat on the management area, that’s certainly been the case.”

The collaboration between RGS & AWS with JRL integrates our legacy project-by-project approach and our new focus on dynamic forest restoration blocks – landscape-scale, multi-year projects. It also underscores how our approach to diversifying and improving forest habitats needs to reflect local conditions.

In 2013, RGS & AWS and JRL signed a memorandum of understanding to collaboratively implement JRL’s natural resource management goals. In 2021, to facilitate collaborations at other USACE facilities, RGS & AWS and USACE signed a national Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Fran Montgomery, lead ranger at Jennings Randolph Lake, said, “As one of JRL’s longest standing partnerships, RGS has been invaluable to the success of managing natural resources at JRL. As stewards of federal lands, it’s our duty to protect and enhance the natural resources of the park. JRL relies heavily on partnerships to accomplish these goals as we have a small staff with only two natural resource specialists. RGS has provided funding, volunteers and technical expertise to ensure that our forest management program can continue, to benefit wildlife and the visiting public who come here to enjoy the outdoors.”

Between 2013 and 2019, RGS & AWS helped plan and implement more than 100 acres of forest management on the West Virginia and Maryland sides of the reservoir as well as helped fund weed control, fertilizing and tree plantings.

JRL is currently updating their resource management plan, which is expected to include additional forest management and habitat projects. As part of our MOU with JRL, RGS & AWS and other partners will help JRL implement their updated resource plan with active forest management.

RGS & AWS has also been working with other partners and neighboring private landowners – many of whom own lands that’ve been surface mined for coal – to get mined lands reforested and young forest habitat established.

Across the Appalachians, over a million acres of forest has been converted by coal mining to a grassland or a scrub/shrub cover type, dominated by non-native invasive species.

To successfully reforest mined lands, the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) was developed by the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI). The FRA promotes reducing compaction and deep ripping with bulldozers to improve root penetration, water infiltration and colonization. Native trees and shrubs are then planted to restore forests. Given the heavy equipment involved, plant materials and labor, mineland reforestation isn’t cheap.

But, as Scott Eggerud, a forester with ARRI and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), explains, “Restoring native cover types, using the FRA, maximizes ecological services including creating early successional habitat and carbon sequestration.”

In 2015, RGS & AWS, the U.S. Forest Service, the Maryland Forest Service and OSMRE planned and planted a 24-acre mineland reforestation project adjoining JRL. In 2024, working with Bosland Growth and the Maryland and Washington, D.C. chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), we’ve had constructive conversations with a landowner whose lands adjoin JRL and who has former minelands on their property. While not finalized, this first prospective project reinforces our strategy of collaborating with groups focusing on mineland reforestation and nearby private landowners to complement and expand dynamic blocks.

In addition, we are excited to start working more with the Maryland Forest Service, the University of Maryland Extension, TNC, Audubon Mid-Atlantic and other partners to formally plan our dynamic block at JRL and conduct outreach to nearby private forest landowners who are interested in managing their forests. In 2024, the Maryland Forest Service is expecting $500,000 in funding from the U.S. Forest Service to plan three dynamic forest restoration blocks across Maryland, including JRL, and conduct outreach to private landowners. The work RGS & AWS has completed with JRL staff, other partners and private landowners in western Maryland is another example of how collaboration and innovation go hand in hand to help improve forest management and increase habitat diversity and quality.

Map of prior mineland reforestation project and potential stands to manage for improved habitat at Jennings Randolph Lake. Map and aerial imagery courtesy of JRL, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Map of Jennings Randolph Lake in western Maryland courtesy of JRL, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Learn more about habitat projects in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

RGS & AWS Hires Aaron Lewis as Pennsylvania Forest Conservation Coordinator

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RGS & AWS welcomes Aaron Lewis as the Pennsylvania Forest Conservation Coordinator. Aaron’s experience in forest consulting and the forest products industry has led to professional relationships with forest management companies, state agencies and non-profit organizations that will encourage coordination to achieve forest wildlife habitat goals in Pennsylvania.

Aaron’s forestry career began by stacking lumber on his family’s sawmill in rural Sullivan County. His forestry degrees from Penn State at the Mont Alto and University Park campuses led to experiences in a variety of forests and land management organizations. Most recently, Aaron managed land as a consultant in south central Kentucky. As an avid outdoorsman, Aaron enjoys his time whitewater canoeing, backpacking, skiing and hunting. Recently, he has enjoyed upland hunting with his parents’ chocolate lab, Silva. Aaron resides in north central Pennsylvania.

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