The month of June is the peak season for baby quail sightings. During this time of year, not a day goes by that I don't receive either a phone call, email, or face-to-face baby quail report.
Last week I got a report from a customer who saw a family of 27 babies with a single mom!
I don't know anybody who doesn't look forward to seeing baby quail each spring. It is truly a delight to see these precious little babies - and their antics - as they are shepherded, watched over, and cared for so diligently by momma and poppa quail.
I think adult quail are awesome parents. Usually the father will be the lookout as he perches in an open-exposed location where he can scout for danger. Mama quail is always willing to huddle the babies under her protective wings - whether it be from the hot sun or just to provide a safe place to take a break and rest.
It is heartbreaking to see the numbers of babies diminish over the weeks as quail families frequent your yard. Typically, the first time you see them in your yard, they are "little walnuts on legs." They are so adorable. At first there might be 10, 12 or 15 babies - sometimes even more.
I don't know anybody who doesn't look forward to seeing baby quail each spring. It is truly a delight to see these precious little babies - and their antics - as they are shepherded, watched over, and cared for so diligently by momma and poppa quail.
I think adult quail are awesome parents. Usually the father will be the lookout as he perches in an open-exposed location where he can scout for danger. Mama quail is always willing to huddle the babies under her protective wings - whether it be from the hot sun or just to provide a safe place to take a break and rest.
It is heartbreaking to see the numbers of babies diminish over the weeks as quail families frequent your yard. Typically, the first time you see them in your yard, they are "little walnuts on legs." They are so adorable. At first there might be 10, 12 or 15 babies - sometimes even more.
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| Save baby quail by keeping cats indoors |
However, as they visit your yard over time, you will notice their numbers go down as the babies are lost to a variety of predators - Western scrub-jays, common raven, greater roadrunners, snakes and especially housecats. The sad thing about housecats is that it is so preventable.
Baby quail are defenseless in their ability to get away from cats. Recently hatched baby quail are not capable of flight. Their only defense is camouflage and their ability to run for cover, but it is hard to outrun a cat when you are only an inch or two tall.
As the owner of a backyard wild bird store, I field questions from caring, concerned individuals who enjoy attracting wild birds to their yard, but have to contend with a neighbor's cat who is allowed to roam freely.
It is interesting how most pet owners wouldn't ever consider letting their dogs roam the neighborhood freely, but don't give a second thought to letting their cats roam freely. It is important to remember that there are both county and city ordinances that prohibit pet owners from allowing their domestic animals to roam freely, be they dogs or cats.
The Humane Society of the United States has produced a wonderful brochure titled: "A Safe Cat is a Happy Cat". This brochure touches on a number of topics on the importance of keeping cats indoors. If you would like a free copy of this pamphlet, it is available at Jay's Bird Barn. You can also go online to www.safecats.org for additional information.
Quoting from the brochure, "The goal of the Humane Society of the United States Safe Cats campaign is to convince cat caregivers that there is truly no place like home for their cats. This campaign provides cat caregivers with information on the consequences of - and the solutions to - letting owned cats roam unsupervised outdoors."
I endorse this campaign, and encourage cat owners to be responsible pet owners and not allow their cats to roam freely - especially in other peoples' yards. I know that I get upset when I see a neighbor's cat crouched down in the bushes near my feeding area.
Until next week, happy birding!
Baby quail are defenseless in their ability to get away from cats. Recently hatched baby quail are not capable of flight. Their only defense is camouflage and their ability to run for cover, but it is hard to outrun a cat when you are only an inch or two tall.
As the owner of a backyard wild bird store, I field questions from caring, concerned individuals who enjoy attracting wild birds to their yard, but have to contend with a neighbor's cat who is allowed to roam freely.
It is interesting how most pet owners wouldn't ever consider letting their dogs roam the neighborhood freely, but don't give a second thought to letting their cats roam freely. It is important to remember that there are both county and city ordinances that prohibit pet owners from allowing their domestic animals to roam freely, be they dogs or cats.
The Humane Society of the United States has produced a wonderful brochure titled: "A Safe Cat is a Happy Cat". This brochure touches on a number of topics on the importance of keeping cats indoors. If you would like a free copy of this pamphlet, it is available at Jay's Bird Barn. You can also go online to www.safecats.org for additional information.
Quoting from the brochure, "The goal of the Humane Society of the United States Safe Cats campaign is to convince cat caregivers that there is truly no place like home for their cats. This campaign provides cat caregivers with information on the consequences of - and the solutions to - letting owned cats roam unsupervised outdoors."
I endorse this campaign, and encourage cat owners to be responsible pet owners and not allow their cats to roam freely - especially in other peoples' yards. I know that I get upset when I see a neighbor's cat crouched down in the bushes near my feeding area.
Until next week, happy birding!
