Hi -
I think a brief review of the history of pheasants in Oregon would be pretty
constructive.
"Chinese" Pheasants were released near Lebanon in 1881, and prospered, spread
through the Willamette Valley. They were then successfully planted various
places east of the Cascades. I think most of the early releases on the east
side were of birds trapped in the Willamette Valley? If I am wrong, someone
please correct?
Anyway, pheasants generally did well in Oregon at least into the 1960s,
although populations fluctuated a lot. Sometime in the 1950s - 1960s, the
Oregon Game Commission got the asinine idea that these "Chinese" Pheasants were
not well adapted to Oregon habitats, and began buying and bringing in other
forms of P. colchicus, to raise at EE Wilson, and distribute around the state -
"Mongolian" Pheasants, Sezchuan (sp?) Pheasants, etc.
While habitat has been altered a lot since the 1950s with cleaner farming,
changes in crops, etc, the declines have been too widespread, and too
simultaneous across the state to just be related to changing land use. I
strongly suspect that the intermixing of these various subspecies (and now with
semi-domesticated put and take birds) has put a severe genetic burden on a
population that used to do pretty well.
Wayne
From: "Alan Contreras" <acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "harneybirder" <harneybirder@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Janet Kelly" <chamkell@xxxxxxx>, "Dennis Vroman" <dpvroman@xxxxxxxxxx>,
"obol" <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, January 9, 2016 6:23:01 PM
Subject: [obol] Re: Pheasants
Oh that’s right, I guess they’ll have to send out for KFC or wait for something
equally hot to be sent. Won’t be long now.
Alan Contreras
acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx
On Jan 9, 2016, at 6:17 PM, Tim Blount < harneybirder@xxxxxxxxx > wrote:
They wouldn't do anything with them...seasons over so it would be illegal.
On Jan 9, 2016 6:11 PM, "Alan Contreras" < acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx > wrote:
BQ_BEGIN
Ha ha, probably sheltering at the Dunbar’s ranch or fighting the quail for seed
at the Field Station. Or roasted.
Alan Contreras
acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx
BQ_BEGIN
On Jan 9, 2016, at 6:00 PM, Tim Blount < harneybirder@xxxxxxxxx > wrote:
I remember Malheur HQ having a really good population of pheasants a week or so
ago...
Tim
On Jan 9, 2016 5:54 PM, "Janet Kelly" < chamkell@xxxxxxx > wrote:
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I've lived in South Medford for the last 10 years and have seen Ring-necked
Pheasants in the orchards along Carpenter Hill Rd. Not many, maybe 2 per year.
I used to hear them at my house on Pioneer Rd but not for the last 5 years.
Janet Kelly
Medford
Sent from above
On Jan 9, 2016, at 11:39 AM, Dennis Vroman < dpvroman@xxxxxxxxxx > wrote:
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RN Pheasants are pretty much history in the Grants Pass part of the Rogue
Valley. I managed to find a rooster last year, but if this fellow is dead, he
might be the end of them. GP CBC data tells the story. Will keep looking for my
2016 Jo Co list, but not hopeful. Pheasants have been replaced by the Turkey
here.
Dennis
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----- Original Message -----
From: Alan Contreras
To: OBOL
Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2016 11:09 AM
Subject: [obol] Pheasants
Thinking about the miscellaneous chickens of e Oregon reminds me that the
status of Ring-necked Pheasant in western Oregon has changed a lot in the past
25 years. I’d be interested to hear from observers in various parts of w.
Oregon regarding whether there are ANY self-sustaining populations of pheasant
west of the Cascades.
On Sunday I will be birding Baskett and Ankeny with Matthew Schneider so I can
seek my own resplendent resident pleasant pheasants.
Alan Contreras
acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx
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