Subject: Re: Bobwhites
Date: Jun 19 14:25:05 1997
From: Jane Hadley - jhadle at halcyon.com


Tweeters: Here are two excerpts from January postings to Tweeters on
this topic. The first is from Kelly McAllister:

Yesterday, I talked briefly with Dave Ware, the Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife's Upland Bird Manager, about Bobwhite and Scaled
Quail.
Dave doesn't believe that either species persists for very long in the
wild
in Washington with the Scaled Quail being the least likely to survive
and
successfully breed here. Bobwhite may breed successfully and maintain
their
numbers in an area for a short while but they undoubtedly don't last
long
(particularly in eastern Washington) without continued augmentation from
releases of pen-raised birds.

Bobwhite are raised in tremendous numbers and many of the state's
shooting
ranges (including those in the Yakima area and at Fort Lewis) see
releases
of birds every weekend during much of the year.



The second excerpt is from Kelly Cassidy who said he was quoting from
the Gap Breeding Bird Atlas (Smith and Mattocks 1997 not yet available):

Bobwhite: "Introduced from eastern US. Locally uncommon in the Puget
Trough and at Ledbetter Point." ..."first introduced to Washington on
Whidbey Island in 1871..." "Bobwhites formerly occurred in southeastern
Washington, where they were introduced to the Walla Walla valley in
1920. In following years, their numbers increased to support healthy
populations for several years, but then have declined drastically in
recent years. A single male noted in Walla Walla in 1988 is the last
known record from this area. The harsh winter of 1992-1993 seems to
have finished them off (MD). Bobwhites were also introduced to the
Wenas Creek region (Yakima Co.) but failed to establish a population
there (AS = Andy Stepniewski). The highly variable nature of Bobwhite
introductions makes their distribution difficult to predict. In some
years, they are numerous in areas outside the mapped distribution [in
the southern Puget Trough]. However, these are transient numbers and
the apparently stable populations are those depicted on the map."

To which I (Kelly Cassidy) will also add that I talked to Mike and he is
checking for
more information about the Ledbetter Point location (on the coast).
Also, Bobwhite chicks are commonly raised by hunters and released, and
given as Easter gifts and later released. So, in late spring/early
summer, Bobwhites are especially likely to be heard just about anywhere
and a few even survive the winter.


--
Jane Hadley
jhadle at halcyon.com
Seattle, WA