Tag Archives: Quail

Monthly Journal – April, 2016

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There’s been much nesting activity in April, as there should be.  Three of the four houses on the Peachtree Park Nature Trail have occupants and there is  a Red-bellied Woodpecker pair nesting in a snag on the trail: (see the recent post Nesters on the Nature Trail).   The bluebird house in the Darlington Road triangle is occupied, and Bluebirds are competing with Brown-headed Nuthatches for a box three houses down.  Birds are nesting in shrubbery in multiple locations in our yard and Carolina Wrens in the oven vent.  This is occurring all over the neighborhood, and most likely in your yard.

Also, Goldfinches descended in mass in the trees inback of us for several days and emptied the thistle feeders every day for a few days.  The morning chorus at sunrise continues to be quite loud; some singers go on almost all day, like the Brown Thrasher below.  It’s a great time of year.

American Goldfinches
Blue Jay
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Carolina Chickladee – Nature Trail
Carolina Wren – Nature Trail
Carolina Wren in oven vent
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird – Nature Trail
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Bobwhite – Atlanta History Center
Northern Cardinal
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker on Nature Trail
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk

Brown Thrasher singing in a dogwood tree

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Growing up in the country near near Atlanta, I could hear Bobwhites making their distinctive Bobwhite calls in the woods and fields nearby; it is a beautiful sound.  The woods and fields in and around Atlanta once were filled with those calls too.  Bobwhite calls are now gone, another victim of habitat loss.

Quail Release

Brett Bannor of the AHC releasing the Bobwhites

But a remarkable thing happened yesterday right here in the heart of Buckhead.  Twenty Northern Bobwhites were released on the 33-acre campus of the Atlanta History Center (AHC). The hope is those calls will return to some of Atlanta’s urban woods.

The credit for this idea belongs to President and CEO Sheffield Hale who was there for the birds’ release.  Goizuetta Gardens and Living Collections Director Sarah Roberts and Manager of Animal Collections, Brett Bannor were also there and told us the focus is on release and conservation.

Bobwhite

Male Bobwhite (photo BS Thurner Hof)

The Bobwhite quail is the only quail native to the eastern United States.  They are predominantly seed eaters, but females eat insects when preparing to lay eggs and chicks eat insects too.  The Bobwhite population has declined 85% since 1960 and 80% don’t live through the first year.  But the History Center’s plan is to replenish their initial population with more birds in hopes of establishing breeding pairs.

Bobwhites prefer early successional habitat, which is harder and harder to find.  However AHC’s Swan Woods has 10 acres of secondary successional forest with strictly Piedmont natives.  And now they have a wildflower meadow with native grasses and other plants, including partridge pea which Bobwhites love to eat.

Bird FestWe were lucky to be on a tour hosted by Atlanta Audubon, part of the Atlanta Bird Fest which continues through May 15.  Atlanta Audubon also has bird walks at the History Center in the summer and fall.

We discovered that there’s much more to explore at the AHC than the main museum and Swan House.  Extensive walking trails go through woods, fields and magnificent gardens.  Conservation abounds and friendly staff is eager to tell you about it, such as an experimental American Chestnut orchard in partnership with the Georgia chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation.  If you haven’t visited the AHC recently, check it out.

Good luck all you Bobwhites.  We’ll be listening for your call.

Quail Release

Bobwhites contemplating freedom