Sounds to me like the birds were older birds that have had way too much human contact. I have found that younger birds tend to call much more then the older ones. I have 6 week old quail in the flight pen for 2 weeks. We released 3 for training and got them all back within 6 hours. Unfortunately I am located in Southwest Pennsylvania and not in the Northeast.
thanks
Dave
www.stonecreekgamebirds.com50 Creek Lane Road
Burgettstown, Pa 15021
(724) 947-3574