In the early years of Golden Gate Park, there were so few songbirds that the California State Floral Society in 1891 petitioned the park commission to import “feathered songsters.” I guess a new landscape is like a new restaurant or bar; it takes time for its patrons to find it.
Thank you for this story, and I appreciated the Ishi connection. We loved hearing and seeing the park quail, mostly in the (then) Strybing Arboretum. I did a quick search of my photo files, and the last images I have of the quail date to 2010. There used to be -- perhaps still is? -- a wood bench in the Botanical Garden with lovely quail carvings.
Love this, Susan. I had no idea about Golden Gate’s rich history of quails, that they are SF’s official bird, or that they had slowly disappeared. We live outside Healdsburg in the forest, and have two large groups/families that live in the bushes just outside our garden, and often run raids into our garden. :) They’re one of my favorite things to look for and enjoy here.
Thank you Laurel -- you're so lucky! I've rarely seen them in action.
Thank you for this story, and I appreciated the Ishi connection. We loved hearing and seeing the park quail, mostly in the (then) Strybing Arboretum. I did a quick search of my photo files, and the last images I have of the quail date to 2010. There used to be -- perhaps still is? -- a wood bench in the Botanical Garden with lovely quail carvings.
Thank you Steve. Do you have a picture of that bench. I don't recall seeing it, but if you have a photo, I'd love to put it up.
Beautiful story, thank you for sharing! I'm glad there is still hope for the quails to thrive again one day in SF.
Love this, Susan. I had no idea about Golden Gate’s rich history of quails, that they are SF’s official bird, or that they had slowly disappeared. We live outside Healdsburg in the forest, and have two large groups/families that live in the bushes just outside our garden, and often run raids into our garden. :) They’re one of my favorite things to look for and enjoy here.