Baby Gambel's Quail, Everywhere!

by Jennifer Schliem
(Joshua Tree, CA)

I live out in The Southern California High Desert, Joshua Tree to be exact. I have added many photos of my nesting Mourning Doves, but now I want to show some of the beautiful little quail babies.

I have a top of a very shallow bird bath sitting under some Desert Willow trees providing water for all the critters, and yes even pesky squirrels.

The other day I was able to photograph a small flock of baby Gamble's Quail getting a drink. I have hundreds of quail and their babies.

I feed the Doves, Quail, and bunny's chicken scratch, so they all know where to go to get food and water. I have several large windows looking out into the yard to watch the fun.

This is a close up of the babies taken from my window. Cute aren't they?

Greater Roadrunner On Nest

by Cindy
(So. Calif. High Desert Mtns.)

Here is a picture of our Momma Roadrunner on her nest. (We think its the momma, she got in it as soon as it was done and then and there the eggs appeared!)

We are beyond excited to be able to witness this awesome event, on a bird that is so rarely seen in its nesting habits!

We can't wait till the babies are here, about another ten days. We will, for the first time ever, be able to witness newborn Roadrunners.

This is the icing on the cake for me, being a newby to backyard birding. (A few years now.)
I will be taking pictures when they are here and share them!

She is of course as you can tell by the picture, on the top of and behind our aircompressor. You can't tell here, but the nest is ENORMOUS!

And so very deep! We will have to resort to the portable air compressor, till the family is gone. (That's driving my husband a little crazy!) But he loves all this as much as myself and my grandkids!

Especially when we see her take a huge Lizard she'd caught to her nest and then swallow it whole!! lol YUCK! Wonder what sort of stuff she will bring the babies? Snakes, scorpions, mice, and other small birds. Yep, Its all sad but all such a part of life!

I hope you will enjoy my stories of the Roadies and their nest!!
Cindy, HIgh desert Mtns. So. Calif.

Junco Nest Under Garbage Can

by Bud
(Lynnwood, Washington)

Grandson and I discovered the nest only after the daddy bird scurried out from under the can.

Gambels Quail Baby Picture

by Cindy
(Calif. High Desert Mtns.)

Hi all you out there that love watching the Quail! A few years ago I posted "Woohooo a Gambels Quails nest" now I will finally put in some pictures!

Anyone who wants more can leave me their email, under Gene's suggested way to do it without anyone being able to get it through hacking. Example, MarykayATyahooDOTcom All written out like that.

If the picture could be bigger, you'd see a whole bunch of babies and Dad too!

I love seeing the babies they are the cutest things. We have had the unique experience of having them nest nearby, and watching as they go from eggs to newborns to little babies ready to run with mom and dad! Its such a beautiful thing to witness!

Hope you all enjoy the picture!
Cindy Calif. High Desert Mtns.

Gambels Quail babies

by Cindy
(California high desert Mountains)

This year we have seen more Quail babies than ever before! And Quail pairs having larger numbers in their clutches than I've ever seen before!

They are so darn adorable! Like little chicks. So cute to watch them stay ever close to their parents. I love the noises Quail make. Certainly not as loud as PEACOCKS!! lol (which are beautiful but ear piercing sometimes!)

They have so many noises! Here is just one of the many pictures I have captured with my camera. There were several more babies I couldn't fit in the picture here, Momma was looking at them.

I always say, have camera, will travel!! Hope you enjoy the pictures!
Cindy, High desert Mountains.

Roadrunner

by Cindy
(Ca. High Desert Mtns.)

I have been wanting to buy this certain window hummingbird feeder that has this little moat around the edges as an ant guard.

I am enjoying these little Hummers so much. I thought it'd be neat to see them at my window. My sister has one and she is so excited to have it. But she lives in the City far away and not in the deserts or mtns. as I do.

I have MANY Roadrunners here. They frequent my porch, looking for lizards, and such. I have seen them grab a Wren and eat it, also snakes, etc. They also are a predator to the little Hummingbirds.

Deciding whether to place the feeders in safe place, where the lil' ones can come and go, and see everything around them, or hide in the tree for a quick perch and grooming session they can still be on the lookout.

I just realized that it would not be fair to them to sit and face my window with their back turned to their surroundings. Being not too far from the ground they could fall victim to their predators.

They need to be able to see all around themselves at all times, so they can dart away from danger. It would bother me terribly, to think that they could be hurt or worse, lose their lives because I didn't weigh the pros and cons of such a feeder.

I don't need to be that selfish in putting their little lives in danger. Maybe for some with higher windows and not in the desert this wonderful, antless window feeder would work.

Ahhhh well.

Woohooo a Gambels Quail nest!

by Cindy
(So Cal Desert mtns.)

A few years ago, we had a Quail pair, nesting on my patio in my brick flower planter. At either end of the planter are Rosemary bushes. The soil is moist most always there, and they're nesting right under one of the bushes. Same spot as the other pair did.

The only problem, is.. When the chicks are ready to follow mom and dad, they can't get out of the planter!

It sets about a foot to two feet down, and about three feet off the ground.

Though the parents are smart for choosing such a location, they don't realize what's to come.

With the last batch of chicks.. Mom and dad called feverishly to them, trying to get them to follow them on the ground.

Their persistent cries alerted us. They could not get out. I called a wildlife bird rescue and asked what I could do. We rounded up all the babies.. SIXTEEN, corralled them into a box on its side and had to chase a few stragglers that we could not get into the box.

Once we knew all sixteen were in the box, we slowly walked out into the yard where mom and dad were nervously watching and calling.

We set the box down on its side near a bush, so they could pile out and then we quickly walked away. Sure enough!! Mom and Dad flew to them, gathered them up, and the happy family walked single file off into the yard.. under a new bush to call home.

Oh boy, was it hard to catch those little things! And without hurting them! Like chasing chickens! It was quite an experience!

Guess we'll be doing the same thing this time around too.

I'll follow up, with nest pictures, eggs and then babies.. as soon as the blessed event happens!

They are the CUTEST little babies.. Quail. Until they become teenagers.. then they sort of look like miniature turkeys with out head feathers! HA!