Walt Trefry wrote:

" I have an 82 yr. old friend who is fascinated by the pheasants in her
backyard. She has been trying to find a book or section of a book that
tells her something about this beautiful bird. So far no luck. Does
anyone in Tweeterland have any suggestions that I can give to this lovely
lady? "

Hi Walt,

I grew up SE of Albany, Oregon - about 8 miles from where Judge Denny made the first successful release of this species in the U.S. of A. The Denny Elementary School, near Lebanon, Oregon, used to have a mural of a pair of pheasants across the front of the building when I was a kid (1960s-70s). I remember pheasants being a lot more plentiful then than now, not to mention that the local school district used to maintain this wonderful painting....

I quote from Gabrielson and Jewett (1940, Birds of Oregon):

"The Ring-necked Pheasant, China Pheasant, Denny Pheasant, or Chink, was first shipped from China to Oregon in 1880, but the entire shipment of 70 birds died before reaching Portland. Undiscouraged, Judge O.N. Denny, then United States Consul General at Shanghai, sent 100 birds the following year, which were released in the Willamette Valley. They established themselves there and increased at an amazing rate for a number of years, only to decrease again later until at present, despite the continued release of new birds, they occur only in small numbers compared to former years. Meanwhile, they have been transplanted into all parts of the State and have evidently found the counties about the base of the Blue Mountains most to their liking...."

Gabrielson et al. (1953 - Birds of Washington) states:

"Ring-necked or China pheasants were introduced into the State of Washington by the private effort of Judge O.N. Denny of Oregon about 1883, and they have done well ever since. The first open [hunting] season in the state was in 1903. The species thrives best in the irrigated valleys of eastern Washington and on several islands in the Sound country, and is found to be fairly plentiful in nearly every county in the state.

"The importation into the Northwest of the Chinese pheasant, through the persistence of Judge Denny, marked an important point in the history of game conditions in the region. The first shipment, destined for Oregon, was received at Olympia probably in 1881 (Merriam, 1889: 485; Palmer and Oldys, 1904: 7; Shaw 1908: 12), 15 birds reaching Portland alive. The following year 35 additional Chinese pheasants were successfully brought in and liberated in Oregon. About 2 years later (Shaw, 1908: 14) a shipment of some 90 birds, principally silver and copper pheasants, but including some Chinese and golden pheasants, was made by Judge Denny, the lot being turned over to the Rod and Gun Club of Portland, and some of the birds, at least, being liberated on Protection Island, Washington, where the Chinese pheasants became abundant. The earliest published reference to the species in Washington appears to be that of O.B. Johnson (1885: 596) who refers to the "Mongolian" pheasant as an introduced bird occurring and breeding in western Washington. Bendire (1886: 145), while stationed at Fort (now Port) Townsend, wrote that the Chinese or Mongolian pheasant had already been introduced in the Territory, but was yet confined to Protection Island, although some had been seen on the mainland. In 1889, George S Johns of Kalama wrote Dr. C Hart Merriam of the U.S. Biological Survey that Chinese pheasants were abundant and on the increase in that locality. The same year Dr. Merriam summarized available information regarding the introduction and condition of the various introduced species.

The "classic" book on pheasants has always been Delacour's (1951) "Pheasants of the world" (Chas Scribner's Sons, New York, 347pp). I believe that Paul Johnsgard has also put out a more recent volume on this group of birds, but do not have the citation. Johnsgard published through the University of Nebraska Press.

Hope this helps.

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net