Mama Quail

I was so excited yesterday afternoon when I looked in to see that she had made it a perfect dozen. She had even put a few fluffy feathers around the edges to perhaps soften the "nest" in preparation for the little one's to hatch. I marked the calendar with another number, so I would be able to keep track of the days. I wanted to be prepared myself.

Me with my camera, Mama Quail with her soft feathers.

Over the weekend we could hear a screech of a sound that we had not heard before. Both mornings it started at about 4 or 5 am. After we got up on Sunday, Chuck went out and saw her up on the garage, perhaps announcing to others that she was excited and proud of her little eggs. Maybe she was trying to tell us something.

Because this morning, I heard a different sound. One that I didn't recognize . It almost sounded like the little cry of a baby bird. I grabbed my camera thinking perhaps I didn't mark my calendar right. Did 21 days already pass since the first two eggs were spotted? But when I looked over the edge, I felt a little cry pass over my lips. And I felt so very sad.

Something got to them before they reached their 21 day mark. I don't know what this predator was. I thought about it all day long and felt such sadness for Mama Quail. I wondered if the little cry was her? Were those screeching sounds we heard just her trying to keep her little eggs safe? Was she distressed and worried?

I felt sadness for Mama Quail.

I felt sadness for those 12 little Quail babies that would never hatch.

I felt sadness for myself ...

Because I was so excited and proud of those little eggs too.