On Tue, 21 Jan 1997, Jerry Tangren wrote:

> >Washington. Hopefully, this isn't such an oversight on my part as to be of
> >such common knowledge as to be deemed unworthy of comment. I'm serious...
> >inquiring minds have just got to know these things :-))
> >
> >Scaled Quail strikes me as a rather unlikely choice for successful
> >introduction and sustained establishment in Washington. Of course, I could
> >be totally wrong... wouldn't be the first time :-). I tend to think that
> >this winter (snow) and the last one (cold) east of the Cascades hasn't done
> >this population much good, if not just plain having snuffed any lingering
> >survivors out altogether.
> >
> >Richard Rowlett <Pagodroma at aol.com>
> >Bellevue, WA
>
> Check out what the weather has been like in their normal range recently.
> Winter in west Texas can be brutal--but perhaps for not as long?
>
> --Jerry <tangren at wsu.edu>
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Scaled Quail really flourish in the Albuquerque NM area (I lived there in
1970-71) and have viable populations up into southern Utah. There can be
periods of bitter cold and snow, but, generally the winter climate is more
moderate than in eastern WA. I don't see Scaled Quail as good candidates,
either, for introduction into a long&cold winter region; how about
Himalayan Snowcock or Chukar, instead? Better yet, how about NO
introduced species of not-really-adapted, whether native or foreign, quail
or gamebirds, and enhancement/protection of local native populations of
grouse, especially the Sage grouse?! Oops, I'm about to get on my soapbox
again, not today. Seriously, is there any evidence that the Scaled quail
was historically present in eastern WA?

Scaled quail sure are neat lovely birds, though, and hope to see them
again in 1998 (goin' for the Sparrows Workshop, Round 2, in Sierra Vista
AZ---wonderful in Jan!).
Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington UofWA and DesMoines WA, USA