Carol et al., The "Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Tennessee" contains an account of the various past efforts of TWRA and others to introduce non-native game birds in Tennessee. This account was based on the published references and other sources available to me in the mid-1990s. The introduction efforts included chukars, Japanese (Coturnix) quail, red junglefowl (parent stock of the domestic chicken), and ring-necked pheasants. I did not find any reference to releases of California quail or "Mexican" quail. Many years ago a reddish strain of the northern bobwhite which supposedly originated in the southwest was introduced unsuccessfully at the Ames Plantation in Hardeman and Fayette Counties. I remember seeing some stuffed birds of this strain in a display case at Ames when I had a summer job there in the early 1970s. I wonder if this might be the "Mexican" quail? Individuals of various species and varieties of pheasants are occasionally reported across Tennessee. These birds are probably escaped from private breeders, game farms, or private hunting preserves. These could be the source of the bird you saw. Perhaps some reader with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency can provide us with more information on this topic. Chuck Nicholson Norris, TN -----Original Message----- From: tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tn-bird-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Joan C Reese/SPEC/PS/EXT/UTIA Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 3:02 PM To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [TN-Bird] California quail? at my feeder Carol Reese Ornamental Horticulture Specialist -Western District University of Tennessee Extension Service 605 Airways Blvd. Jackson TN 38301 731 425 4767 email jreese5@xxxxxxx Island Road, Chester County TN, this morning there was what I believe to be a California quail on the ground beneath my feeders feeding on sunflower seeds. He stayed several minutes, but of course, once I went for my book, he disappeared. I know there was once a program of releasing what my father called "Mexican quail" in the southeast, is this still a common practice? Anyone else seen these guys? cr =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds you report were seen. The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ------------------------------ Assistant Moderator Andy Jones Cleveland, OH ------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Dave Worley Rosedale, VA __________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ARCHIVES TN-Bird Net Archives at //www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/ EXCELLENT MAP RESOURCES Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com _____________________________________________________________ =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds you report were seen. The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ------------------------------ Assistant Moderator Andy Jones Cleveland, OH ------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Dave Worley Rosedale, VA __________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ARCHIVES TN-Bird Net Archives at //www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/ EXCELLENT MAP RESOURCES Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com _____________________________________________________________