Perhaps it's because I've been filling the bird feeder over the cold months, but we've had a LOT of quail hanging around over the winter.
Their favorite refuge is a pile of brush near the house. Originally we had plans to chip this pile, but instead we might keep it there. It offers refuge against both terrestrial and aerial predators for the quail as well as other birds.
The quail have hung around the "front porch" of this brush pile for months now.
The funny thing is, the quail are gathering in unprecedented numbers
The other day I looked down and saw a whole bunch of quail on the road.
The flock grew and swelled until there were dozens, maybe over 100, quail.
And then they all marched down the road as if following an order.
Yes, a veritable trail of quail.
It must be a Woodstock event for quail. Or maybe, NYC, Idaho for quail!
ReplyDeleteClearly the word is out for the new hotel/restaurant at your house!
When piles of debris are pushed up for a later burn after timber is cut, I cringe. All sorts of creatures are probably in those piles. Rabbits, chipmonks, quail. Hopefully they escape.
I would just make sure debris piles aren't too close to your house. Rodents love them too.
Lovely!
DeleteGrew up in the country, currently living in the suburbs; your photos are beautiful and made me homesick. Closeup of quail family third from the top looks downright neighborly and could easily be in 'birds and blooms' magazine.