In the past month, Painted Button Quail have been reported from:
Black Mountain Nature Reserve (including a male and female at the same time)
Mulligan's Flat Nature Reserve
Gungahlin Hill Nature Reserve
Mount Majura
Cooleman Hill
a private garden
They appear to be more common and better-distributed than the Annual
Reports would suggest. (Or, perhaps, this is a good drought-breaking
year for the ACT).
I have also received reports of sightings from other Nature Reserves in
previous years. We don't have answers to quite basic questions about the
Painted Button Quail. These questions include: Are there seasonal
movements? What is their preferred habitat in the ACT? How common are
they? It is not even clear whether they are always, or just sometimes,
polyandrous. (They are difficult to study in the wild and I understand
most info comes from aviary observations - I haven't read the HANZAB
entry on PBQs, so may be wrong there).
The easiest way to check on the absence or presence of PBQs is the
existence of platelets. PBQs make these oval platelets, usually about 8
cm wide and about 10cm long, by pivoting on one legs an scratching
vigorously with the other. The litter is cleared either to the soil
level or the top layer of litter is removed and a moister layer of
litter is exposed. The platelets are usually separated by a couple of
centimetres. It is quite common to come across half a dozen or so in a
row as the bird has moved along a transect. However, in one favoured
location, I have counted over 200 platelets. In areas of deep litter the
platelets are often shorter in diameter. Sometimes the scratchings are
disorganised and not in platelet shape.
We have also discovered that if you want a really good look at the
birds, 'dead slow' or 'stopped' is the right speed to be travelling.
Simply start where there is evidence of fresh digging and move very
slowly or simply move away a bit, sit down, and wait. They are beautiful
to see and well worth the patience. On the other hand, running, or
walking very briskly is likely to make them flush or make them run off
well ahead of where you are.
Any observations on the above views, or any additional sightings of
platelets or birds or behaviour would be welcome.
regards
Con
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