Awesome pics. How many quail chicks hatched out and what species of quail were they? I'm currently in the process of restoring a huntable population of wild bobwhite quail to my farm. I've had one covey for the past 5 or 6 years but I'm hopeful I'll get another covey or two to call my place home.
jaytee,
Up where I'm at we only have California quail (I'm up in fieldgrade's neck of the woods) and I think all 12 eggs in that clutch hatched. My job keeps me away from the place for days at a time, I had seen the little peckerheads hanging around, a mated pair, but just thought they were after the bugs and some tomatoes and they had their nest elsewhere. I was checking them one day when I noticed the hen sitting and thought "I wonder if I'll be off or home the day they hatch?". Well, a few weeks later, I got back from a trip, checked and she was still sitting. Got up the next morning and she was gone with the whole brood. Saw them again 4 days later when I got back from another trip.
Good luck with getting some bobwhite started, they need help. Put out some brush piles, we have a number around us. Helps Keep the northern harriers, sharp shins, RTH's, coyotes, etc away.
I feed them and the peasants, I mean pheasants, across the drive from my RV and out back. Well, them and the white crowned sparrows, juncos, blackbirds, finches, etc. Our little residential area
Lazuli bunting in volunteer millet from birdseed:
I counted 30+ quail (broods were starting to covey up for the fall) in this pic
Their larger cousins like me too, young of the year in this case: