My favorite desert bird. Monogamous. Ground runners. Found in coveys. The male dude sports an absurd single feather that springs from his head. They are shy and cautious and quickly run away from you disappearing over the wall or through the underbrush. But when we visited the Phoenix Botanical Gardens, being used to people they came close, right under our chairs, at the outdoor eating area, waiting for the chance crumb (“Do Not Feed The Wildlife” but I’m a messy eater. Some things can’t be helped even if they’re illegal). I got one not-so-good shot, and a few seconds of their tiny peeping voices. I love them.
Henri Nouwen writes “Friendship is being with the other in joy and sorrow, even when we cannot increase the joy or decrease the sorrow.” We’ve known this and it gladdens my heart.
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There were a pair of quail at the place in the Coromandal that I saw when I went for a few days with friends. They were named by my friend: Vernon and Petunia. Vernon looked after Petunia and made sure she got her share of the crumbs we threw out for them. Very lovely creatures and that feather is very absurd but somehow beautiful in its glory. Love to you Friend.
Marvelous how you make even a quick post about scavenging quail into something reflective.
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