My Encounter With The Rock Bush Quails

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Around September 2020, once during the day aftermath of the night rains, I happened to see cute and fluffy small brown shaded birds resembling small chicks in a flock of 8-10 drop down from the fence into the garden. Instantly, they kept pecking at something on the ground perhaps some seeds in a rapid manner and simultaneously followed the leader in a line. I could not believe my eyes. They seem to be very familiar with each tree, plant, and fallen seeds in our garden. After spending some moments in the garden, they climbed onto a tree branch, hopped onto the fence on the other side, and vanished. This was my first encounter with them. I had first mistaken them as Rain Quail. But later came to know they were Rock Bush Quails.


      





  A month ago, around evening time, I glanced at a Laughing Dove pecking at grains at the tray. Laughing Doves are common residents of the garden during the daytime. Later, I realized the absence of the long tail. I took another look to find out that they were Rock Bush Quails.

    Nowadays, they too, like other regular species visit our garden twice daily to feed on the grains. The other species also have accepted this species to feed along with them. Since they are small, it is humorous to watch them feed on a slightly higher tray, with their bottoms up and heads down, gathered close together around the round-shaped feeder.





    



As the grass is overgrown this spring, it is tough to spot them moving within the grass. They seem to glide on the ground rapidly and I find it difficult to capture them with my camera. Like other species, a slight sound can startle them, and they disperse together in a flock. Every Now and Then, they come in pairs or in a Flock. After their feed, they relax on the lawn for some time. Once in a while, they get involved in playing chase-and-catch games between themselves or with Laughing Doves and squirrels.  It is fascinating to watch them play with other small species. They do not seem to be disturbed by the presence of larger birds. They move at ease with Mynas, Parakeets, and Peafowls as they come to feed on the grains.

             

           
                 



Meenakshi Thopse is a Blogger/writer, working presently in the field of Digital marketing. She started the "Best Courses In Digital World" FB page & Blog to promote Data Science & Digital Marketing online courses to budding job seekers to build the required skills for their careers. Also, she launched Sri Raksha Online shopping Blog to Guide people to buy appropriate products (Daily Essentials) She had worked as an Accountant and as a Manager for more than 10 years.

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