Covey of California quail visits backyard of one curious family

DiAR JOAN >> I feed the many quail we have around here. Would you please advise the times of year I should feed them?

If I need to stop feeding them, how do I do so?

They come running when they see me.

I do not have any plans to stop; just curious as to how one would do so, if need be.

— Joan, Sacramento area

DiAR JOAN >> I try hard not to play favorites when it comes to birds, but I think the California quail are at the top of my “have to stop and watch for a long while” list. I admire their family loyalty, their intelligence and, call me shallow, the way they waddle.

Quail, like all wild birds, can manage on their own, but if you’re willing to provide supplemental food for them, they are most willing to accept it. Quail are considered granivorous, which means they primarily eat seeds and grains. In yards with bird feeders, the quail often eat the spilled seeds.

Their favorite foods are flower seeds, including those from sunflowers, coneflowers and wildflowers; grass and weed seeds, including dandelions and white proso millet; and agricultural grains, including wheat, corn and barley.

It’s OK to feed them and other birds all year round. Maintaining bird feeders does not interfere with migration or otherwise alter their natural patterns. If you want to stop actively feeding, you can grow flowers and grasses that produce lots of seed, and the quail will glean their own food.

Quail prefer shallow ground birdbaths as they feel too exposed when using baths on pedestals. The baths are used primarily for drinking, as quail prefer dirt baths.

Having some shrubby areas, along with a lot of fallen leaves, can encourage them to nest in your yard, but you should avoid disturbing the nesting parents and keep your distance. Once frightened, they usually don’t come back.

DiAR JOAN >> A couple of years ago, Western bluebirds started nesting in a birdhouse in my backyard. I thought you might be interested in knowing that they have produced several broods these past few years and are in, I believe, their third round this year.

They are very special, and I feel blessed they have picked this particular birdhouse. They are in view as I lounge in my family room.

There are periods of time when they are gone, and then weeks later, they come back. I always wonder where they go and am so pleased when they show up again.

— Kadi Corenman,

Danville

DiAR KADI >> Another favorite of mine. Just seeing them brings joy. When the birds leave the nest after having raised a brood, they aren’t far away. They are just enjoying a bit of vacation.

DiAR JOAN >> My late husband, Tom, built a deck outside our bedroom, and one night while I was reading in bed, I heard a scratchy noise outside and got up to investigate.

The sliding glass door was open, and there stood a huge raccoon. I screamed and woke up Tom, my knight in shining armor, who calmly closed the door.

The raccoon barfed on the redwood deck, and we never got that stain out.

— Louise, Cupertino

DiAR LOUISE >> That just adds insult to injury. You never know what might wander into the backyard at night, so sleep with open doors at your own peril.