Brown Quail at Cassilis Cemetery

A pair of Brown Quail were found at the cemetery in the Cassilis Historic Area near Swifts Creek. The Cemetery and adjoining reserve are located in a beautiful valley and support a surprisingly rich number of bird species.

The Quail were found in a patch of blue periwinkle (Vinca major – see end note below), an introduced invasive weed. While this weed is contained in this location by the surrounding mowed grass and grazed farmland, it is out of control, as is blackberry, along the Tambo River beside the Great Alpine Road between Bruthen and Swifts Creek.

The Brown Quail pair were no doubt only temporary residents at the cemetery and while they were there, the periwinkle provided ideal cover and protection for them.

One bird was particularly shy, while the other, possibly the female, offered some rare close up photo opportunities. 

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While the bird stood out against the dark green periwinkle, its beautifully patterned plumage provides effective camouflage in most habitats this species lives in.

NOTE: Periwinkle is an invasive weed, particularly species like blue periwinkle (Vinca major), that spreads from gardens to natural areas, forming dense, smothering mats. It outcompetes native plants for light, water, and nutrients by suppressing other vegetation and hindering the growth of young trees. It spreads via runners and fragments carried by water or dumped garden waste, and it can be toxic to humans and animals.