A follow-up to an April 24th posting, Gambel’s Quail Nest.
Nine quail eggs
under Rosemary
in the planter
near the fountain –
I bore witness
to her love
learning how close
I could get
before startled
she would fly away.
For three weeks
I would check
as the sallow nest
became deeper
in the gray soil
like a fallow
planted with eggs
disappearing under
her pale gray feathers —
a love supreme.
For a bird easily startled
she was never bothered
by my time on the patio,
seeming to know
my presence helped
run off predators
while the stately
red-capped male
kept his distance —
a love supreme.
The hatching day
had finally arrived.
Knowing baby quail
leave the nest runners
not able to fly
nor leap the planter wall,
let alone the patio wall,
I listened to the male
calling as she jumped
over the planter’s wall
as if expecting
the nine chicks
to instinctively
follow her — why not?
Isn’t that what
they are born to do?
Adding to the commotion,
I walked on the patio
as the adults retreated
into a large mesquite
where their view
was over the wall
while expressing
their displeasure
with my presence
near the nest.
Once I left the patio
the two adults were
soon on the patio wall
gauging each step.
Time was working
against the adults
their movement
becoming more frantic
evidenced by a king snake,
having already
picked up the scent
of the hatched eggs,
moving outside
the patio wall.
Inside the planter
the chicks were
running in circles
calling out in response
to the adult calls.
It was time to help
the quail family,
turning the planter
on its side,
the barrier was removed.
The chicks ran
from the planter
scattering, but
following the adult’s
calls from outside the
south patio wall.
In a matter of seconds
the speedy chicks
were through the gate
gathered by the adults.
Images by kenne
With each passing day
I see adult quails
near our home
wondering if they
are the nesting quails
that spent three weeks
on our patio and
now many of the
nine chicks are still alive —
a love supreme.
— kenne
