LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As you are out and about wandering where puddles of water mirror the sky and mountains are silhouetted by clouds white as satin you may enjoy an encounter with a covey of California Quail – our state bird.
The California Quail was listed as our state bird back in 1931, and was seen as a symbol of prosperity and abundance.
Quail are one of the easiest birds to identify, running around as though they were equipped with wheels for feet.
A quail's call, “chi-ca-go,” is distinctive, and lovely to listen to, and if you ever surprise a covey of quail, their thunderous winging-away as they are flushed up will all but stop your heart!
Quail's distinguished plump chests and their black, white, gray and tan markings, along with their unique topknots seal the deal on their identities.
Quail are social birds, with distinct roles. You will find the male quail keeping watch over his covey by standing on boulders, fence posts or other elevated positions. When spring arrives the male overlooks the nest-building of his mate, and keeps watch for her.
It's not easy being gray, since everyone, it seems, in the animal kingdom loves a quail dinner.
Quail are prey for bobcats, skunks, jays, ground squirrels, hawks and humans. According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife quail is a popular bird to hunt, with more than two million quail bagged in a year.
We are very lucky indeed to know these beautiful birds here in Lake County as, in more populated areas, they are in decline due to their habitat being overtaken by humans.
There is hope, however, since cities like San Francisco have feral cat controls in place and have worked extensively on habitat restoration in places like Golden Gate Park.
In the past, many California Indian tribes trapped quail and also incorporated their pretty topknot into special baskets which they wove.
In fall months quail organize themselves into quite large flocks, or coveys – in some cases 75 or more! They tend to keep warm in winter months this way, when they roost in these groups.
They patrol their grounds, keeping watch over one another and send out a call when food is spotted, whether it is insect or seed.
The quail consumes poison oak berries, acorns and manzanita berries as well. Quail make use of protozoans located in their intestines to aid in digestion.
California quails have adapted to their dry summer environments by utilizing the moisture in vegetation and insects to replace water, however, in a prolonged drought they do need water to drink – the quaff of life.
Quail generally weigh in at about 5 to 8 ounces and lay 12 to 16 eggs, with one or two broods. When hatched the tiny, downy pipsqueaks peck right away! Their nests are often constructed next to rocks or by shrubs on the ground.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.
The Living Landscape: California Quail – a graceful gift
- Kathleen Scavone
- Posted On