271. California Quail

California Quail (Callipepla californica) are noisy, visible parts of the avifauna of Leaning Oaks.  We have several pairs using the property this breeding season.  Some years they disappear for the winter months, and some years we have large groups visiting the bird feeders throughout the year.  They almost always successfully hatch chicks here, but some years the chicks succumb to wet weather and other years they are preyed on extensively by Cooper's Hawks.

California Quail are introduced species here, brought onto Vancouver Island as a game bird.

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