The bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) was released from Auckland to Southland in 1898 and 1899. Today its range is significantly reduced, but small numbers are thought to persist in southern Auckland and northern Hawke’s Bay. Few hunters have ever seen the bobwhite quail in the wild, with the majority of birds now in game farms. Their population is maintained by the release of hand-reared birds by enthusiastic aviculturists.

If living in the wild, the bobwhite quail prefers abandoned fields, brushy cover and the edges of woodlands. It has a roundish body and is reddish-brown in colour, with a short grey tail. The male of the species has a white throat and a white band above the eye that extends down the neck. The female is similar but slightly duller, with more buff coloured markings.

The name of the bobwhite quail is thought to have come from its call, which sounds something like ‘ah bob white’. The birds’ behaviour is typical of a quail, and they are generally noisy and fast flying. They have a history of being used for pointer dog trials in New Zealand, and lay down a very good scent.

The 2012 Game Bird Habitat Collection consists of a stamp, miniature sheet, first day cover, miniature sheet first day cover and a hand-numbered and signed limited edition Artist Print. Each print includes two stamps, of which one is signed by the artist – Janet E Marshall.

Janet has been painting New Zealand birds and flora since 1970. She is a regular exhibitor with the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and in 2003 became a signature member of the World Nature Artists Group. Her work includes paintings for a number of field guides on New Zealand birds, as well as a series of ten New Zealand Post stamps on New Zealand endangered birds. She now lives on Takaka Hill, in the Nelson Bays area of New Zealand, where there is an abundance of New Zealand native birdlife.

Source: New Zealand Post

published January 29th, 2012