Quail chronicles Day 9

Momma and babies spent the night under the cardboard last night--this morning when I went out to sprinkle birdseed for them, Buddha got into the yard and all hell broke loose. Mostly it was me screaming at the dog but Maurice was making a lot of noise as well...imagine the scene: tiny babies running everywhere, me screaming and swearing so loud that I'm sure the neighbors heard, Maurice on the wall yelling in Quail language, Mom trying to find some place to hide. I caught the dog and dragged him inside and closed the door but it took at least half an hour before everyone calmed down. Oh, and by the way this was at 6:00 a.m. before I had even gotten a cup of coffee...adrenaline pumping...way to get the day started WITHOUT caffeine, I guess.

Mom took the babies over to a rock basin in the yard that has been used at some point as a water feature. The rocks were a good camouflage and there is still a tiny bit of moisture there as well. Since then the babies have been all over the yard with Mom eating the seeds I sprinkled. Maurice came down and spent some time with them--happy little Quail family--they're even coming up on to the patio to get into shade.

My dilemma now is whether to open the gate to the yard so they can get out. Basically they're trapped until the little ones can fly and who knows how long that will take? My sense says, yes, open the gate--if they want to come back they will. But if I do I won't get to watch the little guys! At least if I keep the dog in they're safe here...or so I rationalize...