DO YOU LOOK & SEE OR--

LOOK & LEARN?

Watching papa quail stiff and stalwart atop a tall lava rock guarding the covey made me realize how little I know about the California Quail.  Nothing in my collection of books or my file could give me a clue so it was time to head to the magic machine for some 'learn'n up'.

In 1931, at the suggestion of the Audubon Society, the state of California designated the California quail as the official bird of the state.  The California quail are found throughout California, Oregon, Washington, northern Nevada, northern Utah and southeastern Idaho.  They do not migrate.  Quail were introduced to the United States around 1900 as a game bird and are still popular as such.

The breeding season is from May to July.  The incubation period is 22-23 days.  The female lays 3 eggsevery 4 days with a clutch size of 12-16 eggs but can contain as many as 28.  This might be due to females laying eggs in nests other than their own.  This behavior is referred to as egg dumping.  Eggs are light brown with darker brown speckles.

Ever wonder what their nest looks like?  I think you would be a good detective if you ever found one.  The nest is a shallow hollow or scrape in the ground, 5 to 7" across and 1-2" deep that is lined with grass.  It seems it should be easy to see but walking the woody and rocky 2 acres that is my backyard over the past 35 years, I have yet to find one.

The chicks' safety is foremost since the birds are not confrontational, the nest is built in an area that is well-concealed where the chicks return until they are about a month old.  When the chicks are 2 days old, they leave the nest to follow mom for food.  Mom stands guard to protect them while they eat.  Their diet includes seeds and grains.  If available quail also consume fruits, nuts and insects.  Chicks are capable of short flights by the time they are a little over 2 weeks old.  They are capable of breeding at 10 months of age.

The families might come together as communal broods, which includes several males, the chicks and several females.  That would account for the covey of over 25 that scurry across my yard several times a week.

When threatened, quail prefer to run rather than fly.  Their ground speed has been timed to 12 miles per hour.  In case of imminent attack, they might burst into flight to get away.  They can fly rapidly, but only for a short distance.  While in flight, speed of 38 to 58 miles per hours has been recorded.

An unplanted garden area can attest to the fact that the dust bath is the favorite communal activity.  A group of quail will select an area where the soil has been newly turned.  Using their underbellies, they burrow downward for several inches.  Then they wiggle around in their indentation, flapping their wings and ruffing their feathers causing a cloud of dust.

Just for fun, storybooks about quail abound.  There is 'Queenie Quail Can't Keep Up', 'Quincy the Quail and the Mysterious Egg', 'The Quiet Quail', 'The Quails, A Legend of the Jakaka', and Native American Indian Quail Legends.

Oh, to be a child again and learn the lessons of life through the eyes of a quail!