Too severe a climate? No record of a breeding population in Douglas County?

I've observed a half dozen Northern Bobwhite in Benton and Walla Walla
Counties over the years, but never added them to my Washington life list
because I know that no breeding population has ever been documented here.
Back in the 60's and 70's there was a breeding population that existed for a
while in the area between Milton-Freewater and Pendleton, Oregon, but a few
harsh winters back-to-back finished them off. There may still be some in
area over by Ft. Lewis, but that's the only place I'm aware of where there
still might be a breeding population. I suspect that they too will
eventually die out.

Dennis Rockwell
Kennewick, WA
dennisrockwell at verizon.net
----- Original Message -----
From: <merdave at homenetnw.net>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 9:11 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Douglas Co. Northern Bobwhite


>
> Hi, Tweets, Today Libby and Victor and myself did some birding on Badger
> Mt. and the surrounding area. We were specifically looking for birds that
> had not yet been seen in Douglas Co. this year. We added seven, which was
> more than I expected.
>
> The 7th bird was a N. Bobwhite seen on Badger Mt. Road, just south of the
> side road named Wild Turkey Rd. About 1/4 mile, or less from that road
> there is a small pond on the east side of the road. There is also a
> non-pond, but wet looking area. The bird called from a "dead" looking
> tree at this non-pond location and eventually moved higher so we had great
> looks at this male bird.
>
> Does anyone know any reason why this is not a wild bird???
>
> Thanks for your input. Meredith Spencer 6/16/2008
> Merdave at homenetnw.net Bridgeport, Wa. 98813
>
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