Subject: Re: Bobwhites
Date: Jun 19 21:09:13 1997
From: Cliff Drake - birder at juno.com


I posted about this when it happened, but I saw a male Nothern Bobwhite
at the Ballard Locks a few weeks ago, I've been back many times since but
I've not seen or heard anything since. The locks are just a hop skip and
a jump from Discovery Park and I'm still curious about Bobwhite sightings
there. I guess it's time to pay them a visit. Also, once you've heard
that whistle there's no mistaking it.
=================
Cliff Drake
Seattle, (Ballard) WA
Birder at Juno.com

On Thu, 19 Jun 1997 14:25:05 -0700 Jane Hadley <jhadle at halcyon.com>
writes:
>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
>