Male Quail and his 7 chicks visited the yard yesterday afternoon from 2 till 5. Their call alerted us to their presence in the bushes right out the open living room window. The audience of three adults inside were captivated by the show.
We wondered why suddenly all seven babies disappeared only to see them all under the dad. I recalled hearing a crow call just before the disappearance and the dad making quiet calls to herd them to safety. I didn't get a good picture, so I had to draw it for you.
Look at your big toe and you'll get an idea of the size of the babies.
After the dad signaled to them somehow that it was safe, the group ate their way from front to back eating weeds and seeds.
Once the group reached the fence, the chicks went through an opening to the backyard, while the male tried to call them back. He helicoptered up and over the fence to continue his watch.
When I quietly went the the backyard to see the birds, they ran to the safety of the canoe. They are the brown patch right under the pink primroses.
Celebrating Our Urban Wilderness
With Heart
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