These guys may be being raised as game birds; they were introduced into North America from Pakistan in the early part of the 20th century for that purpose. See _http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Chukar.html_ (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Chukar.html) for some information. Wendy Ealding