[obol] [Fwd: RE: Ringless Pheasants]

[Joel Geier]

Hello folks,

Regarding last week's discussion on "ringless" pheasants including the
one observed at Malheur, here is some information Dave Budeau who is the
Upland Game Bird Coordinator for Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife:

> Sichuans lack the neck ring and were primarily introduced in the 
> Willamette Valley from 1992-1997.  Sichuans and ring-necked pheasants 
> are the same species, but different subspecies.  Some Sichuans were 
> introduced into the Umpqua valley and the only East Side release was 
> near Dufur, south of the Dalles. It is very, very, unlikely a Sichuan 
> dispersed to Malheur.  Sichuans are still observed on the east and west 
> sides of the mid-Willamette Valley as you indicated.
>
> No Sichuans were released at Malheur and I am not aware of any other
> pheasant releases in the recent past in that vicinity. Malheur does have
> a healthy self-perpetuating population of ring-necked pheasants.  As 
> with any bird species there is some individual variation in plumage. 

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis