13 Eggs

Moana Nursery, a wholesale nursery in Canby, Ore., found what they believe are 13 quail eggs tucked inside a container spruce tree. The nursery will happily leave the eggs to hatch and the parents to raise their family.

Photo courtesy: Joe Carli, Moana Nursery

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Web site, California Quail (Callipepla californica) “occupy a wide variety of habitats, are often associated with agricultural activities, and tolerant of human activities. When the proper food, cover and water is available, these quail can even be abundant in suburban areas. Because of these factors, California quail are the most familiar and frequently observed quail in Oregon.

Photo courtesy:
Greg Gillson, DFW Web site

“California quail, also know as Valley quail, historically inhabited only Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lake counties in Oregon. However, transplants of these birds beginning in the late 1800's have resulted in a statewide distribution. Male and female California quail have different plumage, but both have a feathered plume that droops forward and a scaled pattern to their bellies. Males have a black throat patch trimmed by white (pictured), while the female has a mottled gray face pattern.”

They are heart-stoppingly adorable birds and glad they found a safe haven at the nursery.