Mountain Quail is an sophisticated ground living bird which is scientifically recognized as Oreortyx pictu. Mountain Quail is found at an elevation of 3000m above sea level in the Rocky Mountains of Mexico and the United States of America. Though, Mountain Quail is a non migratory bird nevertheless, now it has also been introduced in Canada. The typical length of Mountain Quail is 26-28 cm and they are distinguished for their top knot. The female Mountain Quail has also the identical top knot but shorter a single than the male. The Mountain Quail feeds itself with the plant seeds and grains.
Mountain Quail: An image by Ashok Khosla on flickr
The female Mountain Quail lays 9-10 eggs in her nest which she usually builds close to the water physique and it is close to the vegetation. In the incubation of the eggs the female Mountain Quail executes itself the complete method of hatching. Mountain Quail primarily move about by walking, and can move surprisingly speedily by way of brush and undergrowth. In the late summer, fall and winter, the adults and immature young congregate into household groups of up to 20 birds.
A Mountain Quail couple in nature ( Image : Rae C )
Mountain Quail is an elegant ground living bird which overall keeps a shy attitude and its habits can be secretive. Any flight is usually short and explosive, with a lot of rapid wing beats followed by a slow glide to the ground
In my hometown of Invercargill we have our really personal living dinosaur. His name is Henry and he’s very old, and yes, he’s nevertheless alive! New Zealand is unique in getting some quite specific wildlife, nothing really that could do you considerably harm, we’re relatively peaceful down beneath, but unique all the identical.
Old Henry is a living treasure, he’s a Tuatara and is believed to have been hatched about the 1900’s. He’s old!
Tuatara: The living fossil of New Zealand – Image: Barbara Dieu
Tuatara, the living fossil of New Zealand is a reptile with a distinct lineage, ‘Rhynchocephalia’ – and the Tuatara is the only member nonetheless alive today. The rest of the loved ones inhabited the earth about 200 million years ago.
Tuatara are greenish brown and are about 80 cm (31 inches) from head to tail tip. The males specifically have the dinosaur look of sporting a spiny crest along the back. Both sexes have no external ears and have reasonably long claws. Although widely claimed to be living fossils, recent research have suggested that Tuatara have changed significantly considering that the Mesozoic era. Tuatara is Maori which implies ‘peaks on back’. The Tuatara has been protected by law since 1895 and a breeding system is assisting this unique species survive. Invercargill have Henry, who became a father (possibly for the initial time) on January 23, 2009 at the age of 111. The breeding system at Invercargill has been going effectively with yet another batch hatched in late 2011. Tuatara lay eggs and the entire process from copulation to hatching can take anywhere from 12 to 15 months. Reproduction normally occurs at two to 5 year intervals since it takes the female a few years to offer eggs with yolks and then one more seven months or so to type the shell, that’s a lot of work.
Tuatara: This living fossil of New Zealand looks like Grumpy – Image by Steve & Jem Copley
Tuatara feed on beetles, crickets and spiders and in the wild share the burrows of birds such as petrels, prions and sharewaters. Tuatara also dig their personal burrows and are territorial, inflicting severe bites to intruders.
Tuatara after lived all through the entire of New Zealand in the wild, but now are just identified on the off shore islands which are totally free of rodents and other introduced mammalian predators. There are about one hundred,000 surviving Tuatara in New Zealand and are unusual in that they prefer cool weather – they do not survive properly above 25C but can reside beneath 5C by sheltering in burrows. It is due to this temperature why Invercargill has a extremely excellent record of breeding Tuatara. Tuatara, the living fossil of New Zealand is a national treasure and the 1st native species to be completely protected by law. Invercargill ‘shares’ their newly hatched and effectively grown young Tuatara with other Institutions that participate in breeding applications and are very proud of Old Henry for ultimately doing his part at such an old age.
About the Author:
Monica Toretto from New Zealand : The Author
Monica Torettois a writer, painter, photographer and blogger. She lives with her two young sons in Invercargill close to Bluff. She has traveled widely in Canada and the US and worked as a veterinary technician prior to returning to New Zealand. Her operate has appeared in numerous magazines in the UK and New Zealand. She has also authored a book of poetry and photography called ‘Words’.
