I must confess to being one less interested in mic construction,
(although I have asked for and made a few mic comments in the past.)=20
Stories and sounds are what I enjoy, so I'll share a story.
Jim Morgan was kind enough to accompany me on a long-shot chase for the
sounds of Montezuma Quail last week in southern AZ. Few recordings
exist for this quiet and elusive species. I had never even seen the
bird in all my time recording in AZ.
We started with an attempted camp in Sunnyside canyon. After a
friendly, pistol-totting ranch hand told us about the back-country
robberies by drug-running, automatic rifle bearing gangs in the canyon,
we retreated to safer nighttime quarters at an established campground.
Hours combing the canyons in evening and morning turned up no quail and
few other vocalizing species at this time of year. The hills are
beautiful, the summer rains have greened the grass, wildflowers are
everywhere. Jim got photos.
We decided to try the foothills of the Chiricahua mountains, so with
the assistance and permission of a generous landowner, we again hiked
and listened, hiked and listened.
It was after a long morning working the oak grassland that I finally
gave up and headed down the hill. Suddenly a softball-sized tiny male
quail burst from the grass under my feet. Flying only 5 meters away he
landed while I froze and began recording. He walked from side to side
and a little toward me, all the time calling with faint moaning cries.=20
I seemed to hear another quail also moaning in my stereo Telinga but
could see no other bird in the thick grass. A few times I heard a
faint insect-like buzz. The BNA monograph describes the male's
"insect-like buzz call" but I have never heard a recording of this
vocalization type. Was I just hearing a nearby insect? Finally,
unable to hold still longer, my leg falling asleep, I moved and the
quail flew off.
A review of BNA (Birds of North America) showed mention of a "predator
distraction display" made by male birds while nearby chicks creep
unseen into the grass. This would be a behavior similar to the
broken-wing display of an adult Killdeer designed to draw a predator
away from the young. I believe I was witness to this display and got
it all on tape from 5 meters away! I don't have the tape processed
yet, sorry no sound to share as yet.
Many thanks to Jim for all his help.
I would look forward to hearing about some adventures from all of you.=20
Good recording!
Kevin Colver
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