I was outside early this morning and heard a Bob White, first one in several years. Bob White are quail who get their name from its call consisting of two whistled notes--"Bob- White." It's the only bird who's call I can mimic because its so easy.

Used to, you could see a covey of quail scurrying across the road in front of your car, or taking low quick flights near the ground, their gray feathers and white feathered neck strap making them unmistakeable.

Now loss of habitat and predation has decimated them to the point of rarity. Domestic housecats let loose became feral, wild hogs, coyotes and other predators eat the eggs and kill the adult birds. The National Forest Service twice yearly burns of the forests don't help. Same for wild turkeys--these birds hardly have a chance.

This spring it rained almost every day so the forest service couldn't do their burns--even this little break maybe was what gave the quail a chance to lay and hatch eggs.
Bless their hearts, it was so good to hear them this morning.

susil