This is Bird Note.

Throughout winter, Northern Bobweights gather in groups called Covees to search for food

during the day and share warmth at night.

These small quail arrange themselves in a circle, with their tails in the center and heads

outward, huddled up like a wreath of plump birds to survive frost and snow.

But as spring arrives, the Covees disband and Bobweights seek out mates.

Males whistle from shrubs and tufts of grass, hoping to catch the attention of a female.

A Bobweight pair's first brood of young can come surprisingly early in the year, in April

or May.

The chicks hatch nearly ready to take care of themselves, but they need some help finding

good places for food.

For two weeks, the parents lead as many as 28 chicks around, scratching in bare ground

and leaf litter for insects and other arthropods to eat.

Bobweights are themselves hunted by many other species, so they produce many offspring

each year.

A pair may have two or three broods of young, and each brood can contain over two dozen

eggs.

Once winter returns, the Bobweights again join tight knit Covees of around ten birds, preparing

to brave the winter.

For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.