James and Mark are joined by Rick Hamrick, state quail biologist with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, to dive into a trending topic among bobwhite quail enthusiasts: parasites, specifically eye worms. The conversation underscores the importance of habitat as the most critical factor influencing quail populations. They discuss how poor habitat quality or habitat loss can exacerbate the effects of other stressors, such as predators, drought, and parasites. The episode also explores the distinction between managing individual animals and focusing on population-level dynamics, emphasizing the need to measure and enhance vital rates to support effective conservation. Key topics include the timeline of the scientific community's understanding of these parasites, the lack of evidence linking eye worms to population-level declines, and how future studies should be designed to address these questions comprehensively. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of quail conservation and the critical role science plays in addressing emerging challenges.