The Fool’s Quail

To the hunter who has only experienced this funny looking little bird while out in the field hunting, and has had the terrifying experience of a covey of ten or twelve taking to the air from the front the rear and all sides, screaming as they roar into flight with the sound of several small engine planes, well, even a seasoned bird hunter who thinks he is prepared for the commotion will find his heart in his throat and will have to gather himself before he can get off the first shot. Which may be too late by then.

You see, if you are not from the range of the Fool’s Quail you probably have never encountered one of these funny little fellows. Their primary range is east Texas, New Mexico and Arizona and northern Mexico. But I have, and that is why I decided they are worthy of a good true story based on an experience of my first encounter with the Fool’s Quail and why from that point on, would neither harm them nor hunt them, although I am not condemning those who do. My hope is that other hunters will consider what a unique bird it is, plus the fact, and in my experience I believe it true, the Fool’s Quail in decline.

The Fool’s Quail, also known as the Mearns, Harlequin, and Montezuma. Or, scientifically known as the Cyrtonyx Montezumae. Why these names I’m not sure, except for the Harlequin, which is easily understood by the swirling design on it’s head.

Let’s get to the story; I was out on my ATV doing recon on a ranch locally known as the GOS. I was gathering details and information to design a subdivision, which means dividing it into lots and streets so that the lots can be sold for housing. One of the things I was searching for was USGLO Brass Cap monuments which would control the boundaries of the subdividable land. I knew fairly closely where the first one was and so I headed that way. Sure enough, there it was in a small clearing braded on to a steel post. Before I was even close to the post, I could see the quail. There were exactly ten of them. The male and female and eight tiny biddies. The biddies were nearly invisible. I eased my ATV in closer, as close as I dared, to get an even closer look. It was extra amazing because with most of your other quail, they would have already flown, but these are not ordinary quail, these were Fool’s Quail.

The mother quail seemed to be more in charge of the family than the father, as he was intent on watching her as if waiting for instructions as to what to do next.

Do you believe in Divine Appointments? I do, especially after this encounter. Although this happening happened years ago, it forever changed my attitude and acceptance of the intelligence of God’s Wild Creation.

There I was, still sitting motionless on my ATV, anticipating that the quail would blast off in a roar and that would be the ending of a grand experience. But, not at all.

As I was watching the little family in front of me, my mouth fell open as I watched the miracle take place in front of my very eyes. They gathered the biddies around the iron post, all scurrying around with seeming anxiety. The mother and father quail gathered the brood together into a tight bunch around the base of the iron post. As the father kept them tight and close, the mother went into the bunch, gathered up four of them and led them off the left out of the clearing and into the brush. The father gathered the other four and lead them in the opposite direction out of the clearing and into the brush and away from the danger of the big guy on the big machine.

So, why did this all happen in the way that it did? Was it dumb luck? I can’t believe that. What I do believe is that God programmed these and all of his creation to know that their offspring is the greatest of his works and, even at the risk of their own lives, these Fool’s Quail divided their family so that in any circumstance, half would survive to create a new family.

Now, have I ever seen this miracle take place at other times in other places with these or other quail? No, and I’m not counting on ever seeing it again, anywhere. So, I cannot say whether this is a norm for quail in general, if it is the norm for Fool’s Quail or whether it was a gift sent from God for me to understand that it wasn't just us big guy’s that He created and endowed with special intelligence, but the smallest of creatures as well. Maybe we should watch the little creatures more closely.

Vic Topmiller Jr. 2022©