Posts Tagged ‘quail’

Quail in the Strawberries

I’ve been getting some beautiful strawberries off the everbearing varieties (Seascape, Albion, and Shasta) I planted in the early spring.  Not enough to give to CSA members, but enough for mid-morning snacks on the farm. However, I’ve been noticing large holes in them, right before they get ripe.  The main suspects are the large families of California quail that nest in the blackberries surrounding the farm.  Every morning when I open the gate at least 20 quail go flying out of the strawberry patch.  Usually I’m very fond of the quail, they have adorable babies in the spring and make a distinctive call that always brings me back to the present moment.  However, pecks in every strawberry just before it is perfect is highly irritating.  I’m thinking about getting some bird netting, although I’ve seen far too many garter snakes caught in the mesh for me to like the stuff much.