Hi Tonya,
My understanding is platelets (in this
context) are sort of circular scratchings in the ground where these birds turn
in a circle and scratch outwards with their feet, whilst looking for food. So, small round clearings about the size of the bird. From
what you write, it isn’t clear that it was a button quail or a quail. But painted
button-quail is a likely contender.
Philip
----Original Message-----
From: Tonya
Haff []
Sent: Thursday, 26 February 2009 6:19 PM
To: Canberrabirds
Subject: [canberrabirds]
Button-quail and platelets?
Hi all,
An observation and a question...
First, the observation: a friend and I flushed what I'm fairly sure what a
button-quail today at Mt Rogers. It was tiny, and rat-ran more than any
"normal" quail I've ever seen (but I don't know Aussie quail
well). I only got a poor look at it before it flew away, but
it looked pretty plain; but no white patches on the outside of its tail/rump as
it left. Looking at the ACT bird list, I wonder if painted button-quail
is the most likely suspect? I'll leave the tick blank for now, of course,
but I am curious what species is "common" around there.
Second, from an old posting someone showed me...what is a quail platelet?
We speculated platelets are probably one of the following:
- small plates that quail use to eat breakfast on
- small pieces of quail blood
- small cleared areas where quail dust bathe
- regurgitated pellets
- scat
- or perhaps none of the above? (or maybe likely none of the above....)
anyway, any insight would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Tonya
