David and Tweets,



I'm still lurking down here in my new home in Petaluma, CA, but I couldn't
help but reply to this one. I once saw a Chukar near Fall City in the rain.
It seemed most unhappy to be there. I also have heard Northern Bobwhites
calling in that same area. However, in that case I located the callers
eventually and they were in a cage in a back yard. I suspect the Discovery
Park Chukar will rate alongside the Discovery Park Yellow-bellied Marmots as
an inexplicable phenomenon.



Yours,



Gene Hunn



From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of David
Hutchinson
Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2014 6:39 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] New Species for Discovery Park??



Game birds are becoming few and far between in Seattle. Certainly
Ring-necked Pheasant and California Quail were both extirpated from
Discovery Park several years ago I believe. So it was with some pleasure
while I was driving across the park to work in a remote habitat restoration
site, I saw a small quail-like bird walking down the road ahead of me. They
are back I said to myself expecting a CAQA. Getting to within about ten
feet, I was shocked to see that the bird was actually a CHUKAR. Bright
orange-red bill, bold slightly crescent-shaped black bands on the flanks. It
flushed and flew with a surprisingly swift and direct flight, about fifty
yards into a neighboring field. Was able to see a rusty vermilion band
across the end of the tail feathers, a field mark I don't think I have ever
noticed before. I was not able to relocate it, though I did flush a Mourning
Dove in the process.

As this bird would be my 222nd species recorded in Discovery Park, you can
imagine that I have been taking a strong interest! Gene Hunn does not record
Chukar in his King County book and I doubt that the Wash Breeding Bird Atlas
records any nearby populations. It certainly flushed like a wild bird. But I
am wondering if any of those people who keep chickens on their parking
strips or in the backyard have gotten hold of such birds as quail or chukar.
Any comments? Tweets. David

--
David Hutchinson, Owner
Flora & Fauna: Nature Books
Discovery Gardens: Native Plants
GSP Forest Restoration Steward
Discovery Park
3213 West Wheeler St., #6
Seattle,WA 98199