skip to main content

Northern Bobwhite

13 years ago

This is a friendly guy. He was walking all around below my deck steps as I was filling my bird feeder. Then my sneaky cat slowly crept in and he flew onto the propane tank and after photographing and getting a minute plus video my cat ran into the "no cat zone!" Needless to say, Mr. Bobwhite had had enough! :)

Northern Bobwhite - Mercer County, IL

Northern Bobwhite - Mercer County, IL

Northern Bobwhite - Mercer County, IL

Dax

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
13 years ago
Great photos! Looks like the bobwhite was posing for you. Are they common in your area? I've only seen one once here in SE Massachusetts.

Claire
beegood_gw
13 years ago
What a pretty little bird. Have never seen one. What size are they? Like robins or bigger?
Related Discussions
It Takes A Community To Plant ATree
Q
Comments (10)
They are a hybrid Jumbo Northern Bobwhite Quail. They are slightly larger that the regular Northern Bobwhite Quail. They require 28% protein game bird starter. I do not use the medicated feeds because I use probiotics added to their starter along with Boron and Colloidal minerals/vitamins. 2 tablets of Chelated Boron 3mg (total 6mg)(Boron Citrate, Boron Amino Acid Chelate and Boron Aspartate) Crushed Then dissolved in 8oz hot water (140F to 180F) 3 Tablespoons Liquid Colloidal Minerals/vitamins 1 cup yogurt with probiotics (like activia) 1 gallon room temperature DISTILLED water Mix all above ingredients together making sure the boron is fully dissolved before add to blend. Use above mixture at a 1 to 1 ratio (1 cup liquid to 1 cup starter) with the 28% game starter to make a mash. Only make enough that will be used that day. You can refrigerate the Fortified Water; it will remain stable for 30 days. Try to buy your quail chicks from a local breeder (ask your local feed mill/store for a name/number). Because of their size at hatching they do not ship well and become chilled easily. They require temperature 5 degrees warmer than chicks the same age. The above mixture is great for newly hatched chicks of any sort. It protects them from internal poultry diseases-which kill most chicks. It hydrates them quickly and gives them friendly bacteria to speeds their ability to digest foods properly making them stronger naturally and prevents pasty butts. In meat birds I add 100mg of Liquid Ubiquinone Co Q 10 enzyme to the above mixture to promote good cardiovascular growth.
...See More
Bird Sightings 6
Q
Comments (108)
I wish I had your optimism Comettose..... It seems like all the people moving out in this direction think the countryside is a place to do all those things they weren't allowed to do in the city. (loud cars, 4wheelers, fireworks, etc.) Its getting close to impossible for people like you and me to buy country land anymore, since the farmers would rather sell it to developers. Its a real dilemma for them I suppose......sell it to another farmer for $3,000 an acre or to a developer for $20,000/ac. Then the area plan commission and the county commissioners think they are leaving a wonderful legacy by building malls and subdivisions. There is a place 8 miles south of us that was all farmland. 1,700 acres were sold to a developer who is putting in a city. The commissioners who approved this were so proud of themselves. And the people in the small town close to us are so apathetic, no one but me complained. I don't understand how people in neat little towns and rural people can only think in terms of "gee....isn't this great........a Home Depot only 5 miles away now.......and a Starbucks! .......and......." Why did they ever choose to live out here in the first place if they don't mind this "takeover"? The only terms they think of is convenience and having more and more of the same things, only closer. How do you reach those kinds of people? They are so disconnected with nature that it isn't even part of their experience anymore. Then the developers promise to make these huge parks for the masses.(after they've bulldozed the natural landscape). Developers and city officials are also trying to connect all the cities in this region with "rails to trails" paths so people can ride bikes through the countryside and see our "rural heritage". What a joke. Then they talk about building little shops all along these paths, since people "need to eat, and buy souveneirs". I really feel like an alien. No, actually.......I feel like all of them are the aliens! We have a paradise here.......and what are we doing with it?? I understand that the sole purpose of every organism on this planet is to reproduce. That's what its all about. But mankind seems to be doing it in a way that is so much more destructive than the other spieces. I'll get off my soapbox now.
...See More
Need help to ID a bird
Q
Comments (11)
Good Morning everyone. I placed a call to the rescue center this morning and left a msg...waiting for a reply I checked out the pic of the bobwhite and it doesn`t match but the pic of the nothern rough-tailed swallow is very close. The differences are that it does not have the black band across the eyes and it doesn`t have the needle like ending to the tail feathers but the overall shape, size and color are very close. My initial thought when I say the bird was that it was a swallow because of the wings. I looked this bird up on google and it is on the rare bird site. We sit at night and watch these little guys dance throught the sky in groups. This year is the first year that I have seen these so they must be new to our area or the population is growing. I live in the heart of a large city across the river from Detroit MI. I will keep looking on google and will post if/when I get an answer from the rescue center. Well I just got a call from the rescue center and the little guy did not make it.....:( She said that he may have been bleeding interally...all we saw was the bleeding from his foot....may have been attacked by a cat??? She did ID him for me and he was a Chimney Swift. I google this and the pic is exactly what he looked like. Thank you everyone for helping. Louise
...See More
I got to see the babies finally....
Q
Comments (1)
I know the feeling....I've been on vacation and think I missed my birds more than DH (my sweet hubby)...I hate to miss bird action in my yard as well....
...See More
tmff
13 years ago
Very cool. Thanks for sharing.
surya55_gw
13 years ago
Awesome shots. Thanks for sharing with us. I've never seen this bird before.
organic_bassetlvr
13 years ago
Great shots! Bobwhites used to be very plentiful here but so far this year i've heard exactly one. As a young girl I spotted a covey with all the birds in a circle facing out-same principle as "circle the wagons" I guess. I've never forgotten that sight.
Susan
gardener365
Original Author
13 years ago
Hi everybody,

Bobwhites are so common here you can find them in groups everyday if you simply take a stroll. They're not afraid of humans for the most part, but will walk along quickly to avoid being right up on/with you. That's, why I was surprised to see this one showing no fear of me and he was just walking up and down the sidewalk and back in forth in the turf and then onto the tank.

Sidewise, they are indeed larger than a Robyn. I would guess them to be 8-9" tall, possibly some a bit taller. They are a pretty bird, I agree.

Dax
catherinet
13 years ago
Nice pics Dax! That first pic looks like its looking at the tank cover and saying "Wow.......that's a big egg!"

I live in central Indiana and we used to hear alot of bobwhites. Last year I don't think I heard any. This spring I heard one once. Makes me sad.
gardener365
Original Author
13 years ago
You're welcome to come here Catherine and as many Bobwhites that will walk into your car you may take home with you to a new paradise :)

They are such fun birds to have around :))

Dax
catherinet
13 years ago
Thanks Dax! I'll be right there! :)
brookw_gw
13 years ago
I adore bobwhites. They were once very common here but aren't as much anymore. Loss of habitat and increase of predators have really hurt their numbers. Red tail hawks really prey heavily upon them. There is a quail set aside program that seems to be working as I've seen more recently than I have in many years. Another sportsmans group, Quail Unlimited, also does a lot for this bird. There are also many clubs that pen raise quail and pheasant. Dax, do you have any of these nearby? That might explain the friendliness of your birds. Most wild quail are very shy around humans.
gardener365
Original Author
13 years ago
No there aren't any folks or hatcheries around here. When I was googling Bobwhite during the last month 50 miles to the southwest and northwest there are two people selling Bobwhite eggs and I think one of them was also selling hatched birds. I had no idea people raised them although on another occasion I was surprised/delighted to see how large one was while he was perched on my deck rail singing away one morning and the thought did cross my mind (although I'd NEVER do it) that a Bobwhite could be eaten. I know weird!

Basically...... they're more advertised as a bird to enjoy the company of but I don't know if I'd want 300 Bobwhite's "yacking" all the time! lol

Dax
sunflower_fun
13 years ago
i've been hearing one around my house lately . haven't seen it yet though. There used to be a lot but haven't heard any in several years until this year. We've left part of a field unmowed for them and I think it's paid off.
robar
13 years ago
I have an uncle who lives near Newton, Kansas......I remember in the late eighties......there were Bobwhite Quail all over the place there.....not sure now. I know the numbers have declined. I hope they make a comeback.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Chamaecrista Fasciculata Brightens City Boulevards

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant partridge pea in eastern U.S. gardens for its bright yellow flowers, lacy foliage and drought tolerance

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Feed the Birds: 6 Plants for Abundant Winter Berries

By Therese Ciesinski

Be kind to your fair feathered friends during lean food times by planting a shrub or tree loaded with nutritious snacks

Sponsored

J.Holderby - Renovations

4 Reviews

Franklin County's Leading General Contractors - 2X Best of Houzz!

More Discussions

ID OWL IN S.E. MICHIGAN z5b

0