On Jan. 8 (a week ago), here in midwinter Eastern North Carolina, I was sitting at the edge of a patch of woods bordering a field waiting for a flock of wild turkeys that usually crossed here to get water at a small pond. About 20 yards into the field, I noticed a small movement that appeared to be deep in the grass. AS I watched, the movement would appear briefly then stop. This continued until I was able to make out the images of Northern Bobwhite creeping through the brown, foot-high straw that was partially flattened by winter costs. It was a flock of Quail trying to creep slowly back to the safety of the woods. I began to try to capture a few pictures as they continued their slow march. They traveled in twos and threes and were only partially visible most of the time, their coloration a good camoflage in the grass.In all, I was able to count 39 birds in the flock.
The Quail in North Carolina can seldom be found today due to historic overhunting and more recent loss of habitat and good food sources. This area of about 2000 acres has a good food supply and is protected from hunting. There are many Northern Bobwhite that are wild here and reproduce annually. You can find Quail io hunt in N.C., but only on commercial farms tht raise them in pens and “salt” them for hunters and their dogs to “hunt”. I am delighted to have this site available to me to photograph real wild Quail!! See pictures below.
The Quail in North Carolina can seldom be found today due to historic overhunting and more recent loss of habitat and good food sources. This area of about 2000 acres has a good food supply and is protected from hunting. There are many Northern Bobwhite that are wild here and reproduce annually. You can find Quail io hunt in N.C., but only on commercial farms tht raise them in pens and “salt” them for hunters and their dogs to “hunt”. I am delighted to have this site available to me to photograph real wild Quail!! See pictures below.
RSS Feed