A loving tribute to Quilliam Kiwi, a cherished Coturnix Quail remembered with love by Katie.
Hello,
I am writing from a place of sadness, but also of joyful memory. We just lost our little Quail, named Quilliam Kiwi. It all started when he showed up on our carport camara, running around our cars. My partner Ryan brought him into the house in a fluttering ball, and said "look at this little chicken I found!" After some deliberation, we finally decided he was a wild bird, as Quail are native to our area. We let him go out front, and followed him on his journey around the house, chasing off a cat on the way. Kiwi made a brave leap off the porch, and went around to the tall grass in our backyard. We assumed he was off on his way to the woods.
The next day, I saw Kiwi poking around the stairs at the back porch. I leaned over and said. "Hey, what are you doing little guy?" He looked up and scuttled off promptly. He was determined to be free in the tall grass. I could see the grass moving until he found a spot to sit still. It made me chuckle. We had a picture of him, so I looked it up and discovered that he was not a native bird, but a domesticated Japanese Quail called the Coturnix Quail. They do not survive in the wild. I realized we needed to bring him back inside and find a home for him. It was 3am, the witching hour, and I decided to brave the wild backyard to go and find Kiwi to bring him inside.
Our house backs up to an old growth forest, and who knows what is in there. I read online to play the sound of a quail calling if you are trying to locate a lost one. I walked onto the dark porch armed with my book light and my sound clips. I saw 2 large deer - bucks. They froze and looked at me curiously. I bowed and asked permission to look for the quail. They slowly went back to grazing and paid me no mind. So, I walked quietly down the stairs and was surprised to find Kiwi at my feet, under some grass. We then began a soft little chase through the yard. I lost him at one point and played my sound clip of a quail. Immediately, I heard this quite loud dinosaur sound from the middle of the yard. Kiwi had responded proudly, and was there. I was able to pick him up and carry him inside. His heart was beating fast against my heart - also beating fast. I promptly put him under a laundry basket with some fresh watermelon and dirt (apparently they take regular dirt baths to stay free of mites.
The next few days were full of fun as we cared for this little bird, watched him pitter-pat around the room, scatter dirt everywhere during his pie-dish dirt baths, and peck at seeds, mealworms and watermelon eagerly. He also spent much of his time trying to find a way to escape into the wide world. I moved him to a box with more air and space. He loved the watermelon, and would proudly crow every morning to wake us up and ask for some runaround time and more delicious food. All the while, we tried to locate a home for him, somewhere with other quail and a wide open space. We contacted neighbors, family and local farms. No one seemed to want him, so he continued to be our guest.
On his final day, he spent the time outside in the sunlight. We had moved him to a temporary chicken-wire enclosure. Something got to him, and we sadly lost him that day. He was intact though, and left this world with his dignity and all his glorious feathers. What a beautiful and brave little soul.
I never knew a little creature could steal your heart in 5 days. May you fly free forever little guy. In loving memory of Kiwi.
