On Monday the above “inter-specific” event occurred at the
Lonesome Duck Ranch. We had both the common California Quail and rarer Mountain
Quail feeding at the bird feeder between our cabin and the Williamson River.
There was a Western Grey Squirrel there and they were all getting along quite
well (at the time).
The two species of quail are normally centered in two different
types of habitat, efficiently dividing up and specializing in certain of the
variety of habitats found in our surrounding creation. They overlap in some
places on the edges of their habitats (places) and niches (jobs). The Mountain
Quail, as its name describes, is a quail of the western mountains, especially
those with dense brushy vegetation and good seasonal precipitation, including
snow. The California Quail is sometimes called the “valley quail” since it
mostly lives in the valleys and lower, drier areas of the western mountains of
the U.S.
I had discussed the quail in a blog earlier this year; the
California Quail is a regular here every year. The Mountain Quail is much less
common, but this year they discovered our lush irrigated yards and the bird
feeders. They have been visiting us up to 3 times per day since their discovery
of our yard. The California Quail usually visit us around once per day,
especially in winter. However, until now, I could not verify that they ever
came to the feeders at the same time; it seems they are in competition
(biological) enough that they would take turns. You might observe that the Mt.
Quail are the 4 to the left, while the California Quail are the 4 to the right;
however, I did see them mix it up a little more while I was watching them.
The Western Grey Squirrel seemed to be content, and they
ignored each other.
The squirrels are not always so content, especially with
each other. Last Sunday, 10/7/2012,
there were 3 species of squirrels in the yard. At least 12 individuals (hard to
count!) were Western Grey Squirrels (larger than the Eastern Grey Squirrel,
about as big as the Fox Squirrel that is common east of the Rockies), 2
California Ground Squirrels, and 2 Douglas Squirrels (the little pine squirrel
of the West). We have lots of the little Yellow Pine Chipmunks too. The Grey
Squirrels are often chasing each other, sometimes for fun, for fight, for
other. They will occasionally chase the birds too, but in a frisky manner. The
birds seem to know this and return almost immediately. The Western Greys don’t
get along with the Douglas Squirrels, which, though smaller are much more
aggressive and often win by chasing back the Greys.
The 2 Douglas Squirrels are probably a mated pair, and are
not much interested in the bird feeders. They have staked out the Ponderosa
Pines and Western Junipers around the cabin. They are constantly cutting pine
cones and, this time of year, storing the whole cones in a pile somewhere for
winter. Their winter cache is probably under our deck. They will sometimes chew
their way into buildings. :> } They have also been eating a lot of the ripe
berries on the Juniper trees this time of year (the berries that are used to
flavor gin). Neither they nor the Western Grey Squirrel are hibernators; although
they will hole up for a few days at a time during winter storms.
Here’s a photo of the Douglas Squirrel from http://www.enature.com/
The California Ground Squirrel is different, although it
looks most like the Western Grey Squirrel. It really does live in the ground
and is quite a burrower. Some call it the “grey digger.” They can actually do
damage to buildings, etc., by digging under the foundations. It is also a true
hibernator, known for staying asleep in its burrow for several months non-stop.
They can climb too, quite well, but they rarely climb much, especially higher
than 10 or 15 feet.
Here’s a good photo from Krippled Warrior blog...
Finally, we still have Varied Thrushes here in small numbers, about
half dozen, in yard next to the Williamson River. A few evenings ago I tried to
track down an owl call that I have been hearing. It’s one of the really small
owls, i.e., a Northern Saw-whet Owl or a Northern Pygmy-Owl.
