Since I've started filling the bird feeder on our deck (I feed only over the winter), we've become "quail central."
The greedy things will literally climb over each other, gobbling the seeds.
California quail are handsome birds. They're also very wary, keeping a watchful eye out for predators. We have goshawks around here (see here and here), and those aerial predators will make an occasional foray nearby – once, one actually swooped through the porch! – so I can't blame the quail for being cautious. (The faint green lights you see on the photo below are reflections of our Christmas tree lights.)
Do you see the reddish-brown smear in the upper-left corner of the photo below? It's a goshawk juuuust flying away from a tree opposite our porch. If I'd snapped the photo half a second sooner, the whole bird would be visible.
(Here's a photo of a juvenile goshawk I took last year.)
Interestingly, one of the quails' favorite hangouts is a pile of brush we piled nearby, waiting for the chipper. The quail have adopted it as a refuge.
At all hours of the day, you can see the birds hanging around, inside and outside.
I can't blame them. It offers superb protection against predators of both land and sky.
Still, the quail are not completely dependent on the brush pile. They will often congregate across the road in some blackberry brambles, which offers – arguably – even better protection against predators, since the brambles have thorns.
I often see coveys of quail on the road exceeding four or five dozen, more than will fit in any one photograph.
No wonder the goshawks are hanging around. The bird feeder isn't just supplying food for the quail. It's also supplying food for the goshawks. Win-win.
Birdwatching is a delightful, indoor, winter activity!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying not to eat so much and drink plenty of tea and coffee, but really miss being outside as much as during warm weather. And it being cold wouldn't be so horrendous if it weren't for all the high wind! Still making myself go outside and walk some, but the wind is the challenge.
The wind is also a challenge for critters outside, feathers and fur aside. Especially smaller animals as it steals body heat and less body mass puts them at risk. So feeding the birds in winter helps preserve their lives.
Somewhere, I think in Proverbs, it says " A good man regards the life of his animal".
Life is so special, and those birds smacking down is a compliment.
You are SO right, bird watching is a delight. I worry about the birds when it gets so cold too, but they are tough and the survival instinct is strong!
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