Baby quail season arrived earlier than expected this year. The Tucson Wildlife Center is caring for nearly 200 orphaned chicks.
The center’s quail nursery is made up of several plastic bins and a heated lamp. The babies are grouped together so they can socialize until they are ready for release.
“We really didn't have a cold winter at all or rainy winters. So we saw a lot more activity in wildlife, including our quail, hatching a lot earlier than normal," said Kathy Carter with the Tucson Wildlife Center.
She says they rescue hundreds of chicks every year, but the nursery filled up early this season due to unusually high temperatures.
"They form their own little coveys. And we feed them broccoli and quail crumble. We give them ground-up mealworms and ground-up crickets," she said.
Carter advises people who spot quail chicks outdoors to see if their parents are nearby first before taking them to the Tucson center or another wildlife rescue.
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