I was driving down the road on the way home from what was an already rough day of work. I see a Bobwhite quail or VA quail about 2' off the edge of the road with what looked like 8-10 babies, each about 3" tall, not old enough to fly or live without their mother. She flew right into my grill. I hit the brakes and for some reason took off running back to them to "rescue" them. They were/are very well camofluaged(spl?) and scattered into the brush of a very steep hillside.
 Well a half hour later and with briar cuts all over my legs and arms I stand there on the side of a busy two lane highway holding one of the babies. I gave him/her to an elderly farmer that lives up the road and is known to have raised some wild homeless animals.
 Even though it wasn't my fault I still fell like crap. They will all die including the one I "rescued" I'm sure.

Anyone have a sorta similar sad story?


Edit to add: I just found out that in the event one of the parents die the other will gather up and raise the babies in the world of Bobwhite quails.

Soooooo the only one that will die is the one I "rescued"      

Did you ever read Anthony Bourdains Cooks Tour... There is a chapter in which he is in China(I think) and eats a deep fried freshly hatched WHOLE bird.  He said it was literally bursting with flavor.

I feel ya, but it wasn't on purpose.

I ran over a whole family of Raccoons once.  It was dark and late and on a curvy road and momma & her babies were around a turn.  When they saw me coming the ran towards the opposite side.  It sounded like I ran over a bag of tennis balls.

Killed every one of them.

I am currently raising a bird I rescued in my front yard.  Was a little, pink featherless thing.  Normally I would let nature take it's course, but I really hate giving a free meal to the cats (waiting for my suppressor) or fire ants.

buzzards gotta eat.. same as worms..

I'm glad the little ones will be all right.  Its nice to see someone sensitive around [you too MrClean ]