October 31 Flight Release of Northern Bobwhite

Watch as 14-year-old Nicholas Fiore sets his quail free

Baby quail in the nest.

On Saturday October 31, at 1:00 p.m., the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History will host the flight release of twenty Northern Bobwhite quail. The birds were raised by fourteen-year-old Nicholas Fiore of West Yarmouth as a licensed project to help the species reform a habitat on the Cape.

A large population of quail existed here many years ago. Numbers have been reduced by destruction of habitat. The relatively mild winters and protected area of the Museum area with its good berry supply, dense brush and grasslands provide a promising natural habitat for the birds.

The wonderful “Bob-Bobwhite” was once a natural sound in Cape woods and we hope that the Museum will become a premier preserve of the quail.

The flight release is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and is a free event.

The flight could be a wonderful sight and educational event for visitors and the “flush” may be especially delightful for children.

We invite all nature lovers to stop by and join the fun.

Above right: Nick holds one of the quail he raised in West Yarmouth.

Left: a female quail; right: a male quail.