Gambel’s Quail

We saw Gambel’s Quail pairs with chicks almost immediately when we arrived in Tucson last week. Getting pictures was harder than we anticipated. They move very rapidly through the prickly landscape of the Sonoran Desert. The adults are very good at keeping their chicks moving particularly when they sense danger.

The rocks around the swimming pool permitted easy access to the water for the birds - even the chicks. I got my best photo ops because of the pool. Now that I know where the gila monster den was located, I wonder how many chicks it has managed to snag as they moved toward or away from the pool. I try not to think about it.