[Birdtalk] Re: [Birdnet] Ring-necked Pheasant, Eurasian-Collard Dove and other "Wild Birds"

[Lofthouse]

There are a lot of male Ring-necked pheasants running around Paradise.  I think they are all birds released by the game farm.  I don't think there is a feral population of Ring-necked Pheasants here any more.   

The Eurasion collared dove has done well in Utah and seems to be expanding its territory. 
I think there is quite a number of wild doves in Cache Valley. 

Jim 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: JEFF LANGFORD 
  To: Birdnet utahbirds.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 9:18 PM
  Subject: [Birdnet] Ring-necked Pheasant,Eurasian-Collard Dove and other "Wild Birds"


  I had some business to attend to in Tremonton, and managed to do a little birding along the way driving from Salt Lake with stops at Bear River MBR, Fielding and Farmington Bay. I had a number of personal first sighting's of the year including:

   Willard Bay(from I-15)

  Osprey

   Fielding(small farming community north of Tremonton)

  Eurasian-Collared Dove

  Bear River MBR(travelled from Visitor's Center to approx. 3 miles down the Refuge road)

  Willet

  Long-billed Curlew

  Eared Grebe

  Turkey Vulture

  Golden Eagle 

  Western Grebe

  Farmington Bay(Glover Lane)

  Caspian Tern



  The highlight, however, was watching a Marsh Wren build a nest right outside the Bear River Visitor's Center. It was a noisy affair punctuated by the horde of Coots that dominate the marsh, and the occasional splashing by Muskrats. If you haven't done so, spend some time at the Visitor's Center(I had not, previously). It's a great place to see exciting stuff up close.

   I also saw a bunch of Ring-necked Pheasant in Fielding. Is anybody familiar with the impact game ranchers have on the population of this species in this area? Are these operations largely responsible for the birds we see in the wild? The Eurasian Collared-Doves were viewed about 1/4 mile from the Pheasants. According to Cornell's All About Birds, "The Eurasian Collared-Dove is often kept as a pet. The occurrence of the species in some areas of the United States can be traced not to the dispersal of wild breeders, but to escaped or released cage birds." Maybe it is more than coincidence that I found the two species in such close proximity.

   Good Birding,

   Jay








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