California quail at Kaiteriteri

Summer’s coming! And that means soon there will be lots of babies, including quail babies, which are about the size of bumblebees when they hatch. California quail (Callipepla californica) were introduced to New Zealand in the 1860s and they’re now found in shrublands throughout most of the country. This family was shot (in the photographic sense only) in the Kaiterteri campground last summer. The male was very protective of his bubs and Mrs, and was perched on top of a post keeping guard while they foraged in the grass.