Monday morning I was at Roaring Creek Farm fertilizing the orchard I’m starting in one of the pastures there — peach, pear, persimmon, mayhaw and mulberry trees.
From the longleaf pine woods next to the pasture, I heard the song of a bob white quail. These magnificent birds have become rare for many reasons, and it’s always a treat to hear their calls of “bob white, bob white” in the spring.
I moved next to a big pecan tree, and being a thoroughly modern kind of guy, I took out my iPhone and opened my iBird PRO ap. I started playing the sounds of a calling male quail and an answering female.
Sure enough, a lone bob white quail walked out of the woods and right next to my feet, obviously trying to figure out this large quail in blue jeans and a bright orange shirt.
It had enough and flew back into the woods with a burst of speed.
Two more times I called from the pecan tree, and two more times the quail came out, flying circles around me before heading back to the woods.
Not a bad day. Not a bad day at all.
