The Okanagan Valley is home to the cutest little quail that run – they do fly if they have to but mostly they run – very quickly through parking lots, across roads and under low-lying bushes.
More than once I have been completely startled by 20 or more quail bursting from under some bushes because they have been frightened by either me or something else that I didn’t see.
They will also burst out of hiding to distract predators from their chicks. These little birds are very small. They’re about 17cm (6.5 inches) long and weigh about 75g (3 ounces), so you can imagine how tiny their chicks are!
These birds are not native to British Columbia; they are in fact an invasive species brought here about 100 years ago. However, since they have not posed any kind of threat to any other species, they have found their niche and BC is now home.
Except for this species, that is. Every time they surprise me by bursting out of the underbrush, I have to find my heart and put it back!
Happy Wednesday.
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