About Us

Luke grew up hunting, fishing, and camping, instilling in him a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors. Later, he pursued a degree in Environmental Sustainability at the University of Oklahoma. While working as a research technician at Oklahoma State University, Luke discovered his passion for field research and decided to pursue graduate studies. He first visited Sul Ross State University as an undergraduate, where he was introduced to the Borderlands Research Institute and its mission, which inspired him to return for his master’s program. Luke also serves as an engineer officer in the Texas National Guard. After graduation, Luke hopes to work for a state wildlife department or in a military natural resources division, continuing his commitment to conservation and land stewardship.

Scaled quail roosting behavior is critical for thermoregulation and predator avoidance, yet little is known about how roost site selection changes outside of the nesting season. This project investigates how roosting site characteristics vary across seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter). Scaled quail will be equipped with GPS transmitters to identify roosting locations from stationary clusters, and UAV imagery coupled with GIS analysis will quantify vegetation structure, elevation, slope, aspect, and thermal exposure at these sites.  By mapping habitat features at a fine scale, beyond the extent that traditional habitat maps capture, this study will provide insight into the thermal strategies of scaled quail and deliver management-relevant information for targeted restoration and year-round habitat planning in arid environments.