I have had 4 or 5 California quail coming to my yard, feeding from a ground feeder for about 3 years. Two years ago one of the couples ushered about a dozen chicks into my garden a few times, then there were fewer and then back to the 4 or 5 adults.

Last summer, there were only 4 or 5 adults all summer.

This year, 4 adults - 2 couples - regularly came and then about 5 weeks ago, 3 of them stopped coming and only one male kept coming - early in the morning and then later, sometimes between 5 & 7 pm. Sometimes he comes between noon and 2. I have been concerned about him since he seemed lonely and often stands on a fence post letting out his cry about every 45 to 60 seconds for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. Then he would be off again. Often I can hear him do this from a yard or tree nearby and he would be out of sight. I wondered what happened to the others and why he was always alone .. .

Today 2 adult males and a flurry of little furry-feathered babies came across my yard just at 2:00 this afternoon. One male was quite serious about chasing the other away, and the other wanted to be with the chicks too! The males "went after" each other - one chasing the other out of the yard over the back fence. Then they were both back again with the chicks - which were quite tiny - as if they had just hatched this morning. I counted 13 of them! They foraged in the ground under my feeders and through the rose garden and then exited by the gate on the side of my house. I do hope they come back again soon. I wish I knew more about their lives outside my yard.

Nancy Johnson
near Echo Lake
Snohomish