I walked by a planter growing an Elephant Feed plant. Two quail wooshed out like jets taking off. I scared them away. This planter has been home to a nest before and there were a dozen quail eggs in it two years ago. I peeked in the planter and saw two eggs. Later in the day, I had to take another look and there were four quail eggs!
The main issue is to not make the parents uncomfortable. That means I must stay away as much as possible. But the location of the planter is an issue.
This planter is in front of the gate to our garbage and recycling bins. If you want to read more about me getting written up and pink-slipped over recycling, you can find that post HERE.
I stressed out momma and papa quail a few times because I had to take out trash and recycling. I noticed the egg count has stopped at four. I decided to move my recycling into the garage. With a steady flow of Amazon packages coming daily, I tend to recycle a lot! But I talked over the garbage bin with hubby and we decided to leave it where it is. It’s going to be hotter than 90 degrees this weekend and that could end up being a smelly problem to have inside our garage. With our HOA, it’s not like I can move the trash to a new location without getting a fine.
So here’s to me not needing to use the garbage bin more than a few times a week.
UPDATE: Now we have five eggs!
We’re hoping the eggs will turn into these guys:
I remember telling a good friend that I had a dozen quail eggs in a nest two years ago. She asked me when I was going to harvest and eat them!
Have a great weekend!
What plans do you have for this beautiful March weekend?
How exciting! I’d be tempted to check on the everyday. 😁
It is tempting. I try not to check more than once!
Smart move. 😊
👍🏼
I hope this is a good year and the parents can manage with you staying away as much as possible so the eggs can hatch. I can see why they choose that spot but clearly being birds not understanding that humans are going to pass by often. We’re perpetually under fire warnings here, still in drought, a small amount of snow set for Sunday and by mid week we will be in the 80’s. The trails were just drying out (sadly I managed to encounter a really muddy one with the dog earlier in the week) but they will all be gross again. By the end of next week though things will be dry and crispy once more. I mentioned to another blogger that I had no idea I was really moving to Arizona 😉
I hope I can stay away as much as possible too. It’s so tempting to want to take a quick look! A friend of mine who moved here from Palm Springs years ago, puts towels or blankets on the ground so that when the fledglings fall out of the nest, they don’t get hurt. I may do that, too.
I hope you don’t have fires! We live in a fire area and I have an app to track them called Watch Duty. You may want to check it out.
thanks for the info on that app EA! I noticed it has our fire warnings map up for all of western Colorado and it showed the early morning fire that was just over the border in Nebraska that people were reporting. I’ll keep it handy as the winds are set to pick up again 🙂
It’s a very helpful app. I’m so glad you mentioned fires to I could let you know about it! If the fires are to close, it gives enough time to pack up and leave for safety.
This should be a lot of fun, watching them hatch and grow up. But I must admit, your good friend sounds like a very practical person.
She grew up in Asia, so I think there may be a cultural difference. Her husband wants to hunt the quail when they visit from Palm Springs. It is practical. After she asked that question I found quail eggs at our farmer’s market and I bought them. They were very good!
I didn’t know you could find quail eggs in any American market. I might want to try them one day, myself. I’ve looked for dogs and cats, but no luck.
Ha ha! I made hard boiled quail eggs and they were tiny but good.
Eat the eggs? Nooo! I’m glad that the eggs are flowing, they are the sweetest birds! My HOA is cracking down on weeds which is great, the front yards in this HOA are so tiny, there’s no excuse to have weeds but of course people have jobs. It doesn’t take long to scuffle hoe or spray the weeds. Next Thursday is supposed to hit 98 here, love it!
Wow 98 is hot! Especially for March. I have to walk before it gets too hot today. I’m trying to make a small walk each day and build from there. My friend is from Asia, so that may explain why she thought I’d eat the eggs. But those are going to be my new backyard friends hopefully!
Your wildlife refuge keeps getting bigger. Five eggs. Pretty cool!! With the cost of home prices rising, you should think about charging the quail. The least they can do is make you got their first month’s rent!! 🪺🪺🤣🤣🤣😎
I hope we get more nests. But I’m trying to not snoop around and scare the parents away. I guess they could pay in eggs, like my friend suggested!
Oh you’re such a good host Elizabeth. I’m sure the momma will give you a five star airbnb ranking!
Ha! I just peeked. I couldn’t help myself. We’re up to six eggs now. Also, I was leaving the house for a walk when a huge coyote was hanging out in the front yard!
Oh wow, congrats on another. And yes, that’s got to be the challenge. Getting everyone to play nice. Ha, ha. Good luck with that.
I don’t think coyotes play nice! I kind of hesitated before going on my walk. I almost didn’t go! I wonder if we will get more quail eggs or if six is the limit?
Yes, I would keep a wide distance from them. They worry me!
I went back in the house and got my whistle that is supposed to scare them away. I don’t know if it works or not, but it’s worth a try!
Hey awesome
👍🏼
Wow, that is neat! We have found some eggs in the past near a lake nearby. What a neat looking gate you have-very elegant! I agree-we get boxes from Prime and they are tough to cut and find a place in the garbage, mostly cut. I have ruined a few nails. Enjoy the weather!
Thanks! I do like the gate. We also have gates made from rebar that I should take pictures of. They are on the walkway to get to the trash area. It’s a little too hot for me! I’m excited to see if we get babies soon.
So sweet! I hope the parents stick around and the eggs hatch; you’re so thoughtful to alter your habits to accommodate them. We have so many quail on the property, but I haven’t seen eggs in years. Maybe I need to start snooping a bit. No big plans here, though I may take my nieces to the train park to ride the carousel.
We did have a nest in a similar planter with lots of eggs. But it was next to the garage door. We were out of town when the eggs were laid. When we came back and were driving in and out of the garage, the parents left. The eggs never hatched. I learned then to give the parents lots of room.
Have fun at the train park. We visited friends who lived in Phoenix when our kids were young and took them there.
We have a dove nesting in the planter by the door to the back yard! We’re trying not to use it as much. The other day a hawk tried to chase her away! I went out and swooshed him away! He’ll be back. Bravo to you for protecting the quails space! 💞
I am trying to protect the quails space, but I also want to peek to see if there are more eggs. Good for you for keeping the hawk at bay!
Wow, I wonder how long it will take for them to hatch. That’s a lot of eggs.
I don’t know. I’ll need to look that up to get a rough idea.
Well, then you’ll know when you don’t have to tip toe around your garbage cans.
True!
Yay! How exciting. Love that you are accommodating the wildlife!
I’m trying to accommodate the quail nest. It’s so tempting to take a few peeks each day!
Baby quails! How exciting… at least for me.
😉
Baby quail are a highlight of my year! I read it takes 16 to 18 days for them to hatch. Today I’ve seen wild animals roaming around our house. A coyote and a javelina. At least these quail parents are smart and picked a planter that is behind gates and walls where the wildlife can’t get them.
These quails are so pretty. I hope that the eggs hatch without any incident.
Me too! It should be around the end of March.
How lovely would it be.
So exciting!
❤️❤️❤️
💕 Today we have eight eggs!
Awww!
You’re so kind to all the birds! Our magpies are busy nesting again not far from our deck. They don’t seem to mind us at all. Of course we can’t see into their nest, which is a huge ball of sticks.
I’ll be doing spring yard cleanup and weed pulling. Fun, fun! I got the patio furniture set up this week, and did a couple bike rides. And TurboTax and I got the returns done in about 3 hours yesterday. Yay!
Thanks. I really don’t want to scare the parents away. That happened last year, because the nest was next to the garage door. We did have to drive our car!
Congrats on getting your taxes done in three hours! Woo hoo!
I’m so excited for these new eggs and the possibility of chicks! Thank you for being such a good careful human friend to our wild friends.
Thanks! I’m excited too. I looked up the time it takes for them to hatch and it’s 16 to 18 days. Right on my son’s birthday!
Perfect!!!😍
😊
in retrospect…flew home from florida on Saturday, saw my daughter run a half on sunday
Wow how exciting. It sounds like your flight was okay? Not too many delays?
delays no. turbulence and cross winds in landing at LaGuardia…oh yeah ..
Glad you didn’t have delays. No fun to have turbulence and cross winds.
the landing was a little scary
Quail eggs, awesome!
Hopefully I don’t scare them off before they hatch.
🤞🏼 Yes, and hopefully you’ll be able to get some good photos of those little ones.
I can’t wait!
How unfortunate that they decided to lay the eggs right there! Birds! Do they ever confer with the homeowner? NOPE.
I’ve heard people do eat quail eggs—but you could never. They are such cute babies.
Have you thought about not making any garbage or ordering from Amazon for the next three months or so? 🤣
It’s a better location than when we were on vacation and they laid their eggs in a planter next to the garage. When we returned home and had to use the car, the parents left for good and the eggs never hatched. We have had baby quail in this location before. I moved the recycling into the garage for all our Amazon packaging. I’m very careful taking out the garbage and check to make sure the parents aren’t around before I open that gate!