When Natural Instinct Fails

I almost ran over a quail on my way home. There was a whole flock of 'em in the middle of the road, but they all scattered when my car approached. Except one. Instead of running to the side of the road, away from my car, it ran down the road ahead of me. For at least 30 seconds. It kept looking back at me over its shoulder, plainly terrified. (Perhaps I anthropomorphize. Deal with it.) Eventually it figured out how to save itself, and fled to the side. It was weird. You know how generally, you don't have to change your driving if there are birds in the road, 'cuz you know they'll move? And do it quickly? Not so much this time.