Feeding 8 Babies

Mom is teaching her little flock of eight babies how to feed from a cafeteria tray. It is amazing how quickly they have grown. They walk almost immediately upon hatching - see the April 19 Blip to see a newly hatched chick - they are called precocious. They will grow fast if the size of their feet is any indication. View large.

Mom was walking them around the backyard up the hill across the back wall and down the other side of the hill. It was an exercise in teaching them how to hike over rocks and how to climb up some of the rock walls. Meanwhile Daddy was on lookout from vantage points above. This lesson lasted most of the day while we left them alone and they explored all of our backyard.

A note about the cafeteria tray. For the last 2 or 3 weeks I have been dropping small handfuls of oiled sunflower seed several times a day for the Gambel's Quail. It is like feeding chickens. Now we will see up to half a dozen pairs lurking in the wings for their feeding. If I put out more seed at one time, one pair will eat the whole thing - greedy little buggers - so I ration. When the fed pair leaves, I will put our more seed.

Also today I shot another bee and thistle which is posted here in my Blipfolio.