Is there anyone in Tweeterland, perhaps one or more members of the WOS Bird
Records Committee, who could answer questions regarding Scaled Quail in
Washington? I've read in the 1991 edition of Wahl & Paulson's "A Guide to
Bird Finding in Washington" that this introduced species (when and by who,
unstated or unknown) is reported by the state game department to inhabit the
desert areas of Yakima, Kittitas, Grant and Franklin counties. Wahl &
Paulson also state in this edition of their guide that one of the state's
few (my emphasis) records of Scaled Quail came from the Sand Hills/Juniper
Forest area in the 1970's. The NGS second edition of "Birds of North
America" makes mention of an introduced population existing in Washington,
but this reference is dropped in the third edition and the new NAS Sibley
"Guide to Birds" doesn't mention the possibility at all.

Just what is the record regarding Scaled Quail in Washington? For how many
years did these populations exist? What is the most recent accepted sight
record? Were they ever any viable breeding populations that actually
perpetuated themselves, and if so, why are they now apparently extripated?
What criteria was used to decide that this species belonged on the
Washington state Checklist? Has anyone considered revisiting that decision?

Thanks in advance for any information.

Dennis Rockwell Kennewick, WA dennis.rockwell at gte.net

One fifth of the people are against everything all the time.
Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968)