Red-chested Button-quail...unusual behaviour.

[Carol Probets <>]

>     Has
> anyone witnessed similar behavior with Quail or
> Button-quail?

Yes.... Del's observation reminds me of something similar I saw recently in the Capertee Valley (NSW). While driving I noticed a bird on the edge of the road, so I stopped the car and turned around and there was a Painted Button-quail slowly moving out onto the middle of the road, swaying back and forth as if it was about to fall over. It didn't look well! However, when I got out of the car to see what was wrong with it, it promptly recovered and ran off into the roadside vegetation. This was a few weeks ago and I can't remember if it was a male or female.

It seems to be a good year for PBQs. Likewise Barn Owls, which I've seen a bit more than usual lately.

Cheers,

Carol

At 10:41 PM +1000 26/8/05, Del Richards wrote:

> Last Wednesday
> (24/08/05) in the Wet Tropics was very windy for the most of the
> day making birding somewhat difficult particularly in sighting
> smaller species effectively.
>    
> Whilst driving on an ashphalt road near Julatten I rounded a
> corner and noted what appeared to be a large brown eucalypt leaf well
> ahead on the road.
>     For
> a time I looked elsewhere and then noted that the leaf indeed was a
> Red-chested Button-quail. Stopping the vehicle within metres of the
> bird we watched as it swayed back and forth in a constant movement. I
> then backed up in an effort to have the rear passengers view the
> bird.
>    
> Given space the button-quail walked on calmly across the road and out
> of view.
>    
> Upon analysing the circumstances I reckon the button-quail was
> responding to being caught out in the open and I find it most
> interesting that it continued on it's way despite being able to
> retreat one metre into roadside cover.
>     Has
> anyone witnessed similar behavior with Quail or
> Button-quail?
>  
> Del. Richards, Fine
> Feather Tours, Mossman, NQ.