<p>Valley Quail are numerous in Wallowa County.</p>

This male California Quail (photo below) sat on our deck railing long enough for me to snap this photo through our kitchen window.

These quail originally from California were introduced into Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Hawaii, where they adapted quite well. The ones that inhabited the inland areas of these states were called Valley Quail and the species that were found along the coastal habitats were called California Quail.

Valley Quail are quite numerous all over Wallowa County, even right into the suburbs of our towns. We probably have about 80 to 100 on our five acres.

They dont seem to nest very early here at this altitude. We seldom see any chicks hatched until June. But when they come, they are in large families, usually from 12 to 15 chicks. Incubation takes a little more than three weeks, and within 15 minutes these baby quail can take off running after their mother.

When danger strikes, the mother quail lets out a shriek and all of the babies freeze. It is almost impossible to see any of them. That is their best survival tactic.

The chicks can fly when they are only two weeks old and I have noticed a peculiar

habit they have developed: when the babies are about half grown, they merge into large flocks of 40 or 50 youngsters and stay together under the supervision of four or five mothers.

Their main food is weed seeds except when they are very young, when they devour huge quantities of insects. Sometimes if their first nest is unsuccessful, they will try again, and that is why we see so many little ones late in the season.

All of the Valley Quail here roost in trees where they are safe from such predators as skunks and foxes. But they are not so safe in the daytime when sharp-shinned hawks, Coopers Hawks and goshawks all prey quite heavily on them. Sometimes when they panic they fly into our windows and die. There have been a few times when the hawk that was in pursuit also died from crashing into our windows.

Quail are non-migratory, but may move into the lower altitudes during severe weather. The natural food here at our place should be juniper berries, but our quail wont eat them if we are feeding them store-bought bird seed.b