Male California quail. Photo by Lynda Nunn, Walnut Creek, CA

Gary:
This picture was just taken a few minutes ago. It’s not often I capture good pictures of a quail. They are too fast. I got lucky. This cutie was up in the tree on the lookout.
Lynda Nunn, Walnut Creek, California

Lynda:
California quail are one of my favorite birds. This male is beautiful! A few years ago they were rarely seen in local backyards, I suspect because we had so many feral cats that eat quail running around the Bay Area. But the feral cat rescue groups (and coyotes) seem to be thinning the feral population, because I’m getting more and more reports of quail being sighted just about every week. That’s great! /Gary

California quail in Moraga yard. Photo by Cecil Williams, Moraga, CA

Dear readers:
I’m continuing to receive emails and letters reporting more California quail showing up in Bay Area backyards. The Moraga backyard pictured above is a good example. Five to 10 years ago, nothing. It seemed like quail had disappeared from the local landscape. Then, in the last year or so, things have apparently started to improve for these beautiful little birds. I wonder what happened to allow the quail population to start growing again?

I’m curious. If you’ve started seeing quail where they didn’t used to be (in your neighborhood, yard, etc.), please let me know under “Leave a comment” below. What city? Nearest cross streets? Describe what you saw (numbers, anything interesting happening, etc.) Thanks. It will be interesting to see what the response is. /Gary

California quail female with chicks in local backyard. Photo by Lynda Nunn, Walnut Creek, CA

I’m starting to get more and more reports of California quail parents bringing their babies into local backyards these days. Ten years ago, there was hardly a quail to be found, I suspect because feral cats were killing them.

I’m also getting email from more and more people who say they’re seeing coyotes near their homes.  I wonder if the coyotes are thinning out the feral cat population, which, in turn, is allowing the quail population to increase?

Time will tell, I guess. Interesting. /Gary

California quail female with chicks in local backyard. Photo by Lynda Nunn, Walnut Creek, CA

Female California quail and chicks. Photo by Chrissy Lahowe, Fremont, CA

Chrissy Lahowe of Fremont, CA, sent me this beautiful photo of a little California quail family (female with her chicks) that shares the backyard with her mother-in-law in San Ramon, CA. Enjoy. /Gary

Condor. Photo by Flickr user IvyMike used under a Creative Commons License

Just got my July 1, 2010 “Endangered Earth Online,”  my weekly e-newsletter of the Center for Biological Diversity. And as usual, it contains an article (see below) I want to share with you about wildlife and lead poisoning. /Gary

New Bill Gets the Lead Out of California Wildlife Areas
In another victory in the transition to nontoxic ammunition for hunting, the California Assembly has passed a bill banning the use of lead shot in California’s 667,000-acre network of state-owned wildlife-management areas.
Read the rest of this entry »

California quail family in a San Ramon, CA, backyard. Photo by Chrissy Lahowe, Fremont, CA.

A female California quail and her whole family are living in a San Ramon, Calif., backyard. I like to call our backyards the “Urban Wilderness.” Think about it. /Gary

Quail on backyard sentry duty by John & Sandy Ritchie, Concord, Calif.

Gary:
California quail were absent from our yard for years, but have made a comeback over the past 2-3 years. It’s delightful to hear the “Chicago” calls again.
John & Sandy, Concord

Dear John & Sandy:
Five years ago I don’t think you could spot a quail anywhere in town. I think the cats got a lot of them. Now … I probably get 4-5 reports a month saying quail have returned to local backyards. I wonder if this is an indicator that the feral cat population is down?

Isn’t it great to see all these quail? Beautiful birds!

Any other quail out there in never-never land? /Gary