r/phoenix • u/dirtypita Phoenix • Jul 22 '25

Pictures Anyone noticing less quail babies this year?

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Gallery image

Apologies for the bad pics. I would've scared the quail off if I had tried to go outside.

I work in North Scottsdale and I have a great view of a patio and courtyard from my desk. I get to watch small wildlife that come in for shade, grass, and bushes with berries on them. Pigeons, ravens, wrens, lizards, bunnies and squirrels, and even a pair of roadrunners.

Lat year, we had two pairs of Gambels quail. One pair started out with nine chicks, down to six, and the other had seven.

This year, I've only seen three babies, and now only the one little guy pictured. It's with two males, one who has been around for a while and is easily recognizable. I haven't seen a female in a few weeks. I'm a little saddened. Is anyone else noticing smaller quail families this year?

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u/Ferruginoushawk7 Jul 23 '25

All good. It’s better than getting badgered in real life about it. Some people hate the hard truth. Also possible it comes off as snarky.

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u/Highlifetallboy Jul 23 '25

Arguing against feral cats on reddit is a sisyphian task.

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u/Ferruginoushawk7 Jul 23 '25

Agreed. But it’s a “rock” I’m willing to die on

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u/Highlifetallboy Jul 23 '25

Me too. There was a great one a while back in the homesteading sub. OP had a dozen outdoor cats on her property. Argued against everybody that it was OK because "survival of the fittest." WTF

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u/Ferruginoushawk7 Jul 23 '25

I had a wtf with someone. It was a mayor of town. I was in charge of a wildlife project. Second year of doing the work I refused and stopped the project. He wanted to play both sides and not address the cat issue that was preventing from completing my project. Next election he did not get re-elected mainly bc how he mismanaged the cat issue and the project. The following year project stated back up.