I was watching a pair of Gray Francolins and their four chicks when something spooked them. The parents ran away. The chicks, still too small to cover ground quickly, dived for cover. Three disappeared into a clump of grass, but the fourth ended up under the overhang of a large rock. That’s the one in this photo.
Like any young bird, it instinctively knew to find cover, remain still, and make no noise. I watched it for a while and the only movement it made during that time was, if I moved, it briefly opened its eyes. I think of all newborns and youngsters as a species renewing itself and moving forward.
Posted for Becky’s Squares: Move Forward, Reconstruct, Renew, and/or are Burgeoning. See more responses here.
Graham's Island 
Poor thing, heart beating fast with fright, not daring to look
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It amazes me how instinctive it is for small birds to hide and be still. I think the others dug themselves into a pile of dirt and dead leaves!
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A lovely post, Graham. So small yet so alert. It reminds me of a family of francolins that lived in our garden years ago .
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Not sure I’d want them in my garden. They can be so loud!
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Fortunately mine disappeared to another spot soon after they were able to do so.
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A beautiful post, Graham. The young of the world are the best new things.
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Thanks Karen. One always has hopes for the young of any species.
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Fantastic shot. Did you work out what spooked them?
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I forget. I think it was just a window being opened or someone coming round a corner. The family was reunited a while later.
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