By Cambria Wells, Wildlife Technician Supervisor

Mountain Quail Chick
By Cambria Wells

Raising young birds presents unique challenges. In order to release a healthy bird, as rehabilitators we have to consider many factors which influence their physical and mental fitness for life in the wild. We need to know what each orphan needs to be able to do to care for themselves, attract a mate, and someday raise young of their own. Do they innately know their own song, or do we need to find a way for them to hear an adult of their species? Do they forage for insects on the ground, or catch them while flying? Do they have an attraction to specific habitats, food items, or self-maintenance opportunities like water or dust baths? For answers to these kinds of questions, we look to natural history, to the story of how these animals have lived in our local environments for thousands of years. We are lucky to have access to research and writing by rehabilitators, ornithologists, veterinarians, and more on our side in our quest to return our patients to the wild. For species that don’t regularly come into care, that research can bridge the gap between our standard protocols and a happy ending for the most vulnerable of species.

In early June of this year, a good Samaritan rescued eight hatchling Quail running alone on the side of the road in Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area. These birds were very young, bearing only downy feathers, and were initially identified as California Quail. When they arrived a few days later at California Wildlife Center, staff noticed confident demeanors, dark-colored bills, and subtle plumage differences that set these Quail apart from the hatchling California Quail in care at the time. A little research and help from the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History, led to the determination that these were likely Mountain Quail, a species for which CWC has no record of previous intake at our facility.

Adult Mountain Quail
By Cambria Wells

As their name suggests, Mountain Quail primarily occupy mountainous chaparral habitat from Washington to Baja California, migrating seasonally to avoid heavy snows and enjoying a wide range of foods such as seeds, fruits, flowers, leaves, and insects. A correct identification allowed Orphan Care staff to infer that these Quail might, as compared to the California Quail we were more familiar with, have a high degree of herbivory, eating more plants than other local Quail species. Therefore, they were offered plentiful amounts of fresh greens. Knowledge of their habitat preferences in the wild allowed us to fill enclosures inside and outside with dense brush to help them feel safe and learn to hide from potential predators. Existing research on their habits and behaviors meant that we could be confident that toe injuries three of the Quail had sustained before intake at our Center would not, once fully healed, interfere with their ability to walk, perch, or forage for food. They were able to grow and thrive under care tailored to their specific needs.

It was important that when these Quail were released that they return as close to their origin as possible because of their limited range. With help from environmental scientists at Hungry Valley, we were able to make the long drive from our facility to a safe release site with a known population of Mountain Quail inside a protected habitat. These scientists already monitor the Mountain Quail population inside Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area and were able to direct us to an area with plentiful food, brush cover, and a well-sheltered spring which could provide the young Quail with an easy source of drinking water. This kind of collaboration between researchers, habitat managers, and rehabilitators paints a bright picture of the future for successfully rehabilitated orphaned wildlife.