New Jersey's Wild Pheasant

It may not be traditional cover but it sure looks like it will give them plenty of protection. Good luck on getting some pictures of them.
 
This is some of what the birds have been eating!



101_0473.jpg


rosehips.jpg
 
Last edited:
FLDBRED said:
This is some of what the birds have been eating!



101_0473.jpg


rosehips.jpg
Click to expand...

Rose Hips! Extremely high in calories and vitamin C. Favored by all sharptailed grouse, and the American Indian who used it with buffalo or deer jerky to make pemmican. A little bitter, but a life saver in the winter.
 
In an effort to establish a reproducing pheasant population in areas where ringnecks did not occur, the Bureau of Wildlife Management released Japanese Green Pheasant. These pheasants reportedly did well in woodland habitats where current ringnecks were scarce. Over 3,000 Japaneses pheasants were released in the early 70's. The birds had some early success then disappeared.
The ring-less birds I've been talking about have been there for decades. I've often wondered if they might be the descendents of those Japaneses birds. I'll keep trying for better photo's, but after it warms up a bit, the ground there gets VERY soft, making travel very difficult.
 
Mystery solved. According to my friends that raise pure Japanese Green pheasants, they are as wary and alert as the pure White winged pheasant (Bianchi) or Sichuan pheasant (strauchi). The Japanese Green pheasants are indeed true pheasants btw, courting, mating and crowing identical to any other ringneck subspecie. When crossed with ringneck, the ringneck features will dominate but the offsprings will also inherit the wary and alert treats of the pure Japanese Green.

Three thousand wild, wary and alert pheasants don't just disappear, they crossed with the other local wild ringnecks in the area even if it was only a few. And they past on those extremely wary and alert genes on to the other generation.

Just because you don't always see wild pheasants don't mean that they all disappeared.
 
Preston,

The Japanese birds were released where there were supposedly "no" wild ringneck populations. I am going to try to find out the exact locations of where they were released. This was done back in 70's so it might not be so easy. I do know they released them in southern Pine Barrens and far north areas of the state.
 
Last edited:
Brian, most of the New England states have at least remnant populations of wild ringnecks, although very small. Even Maine from time to time will have a breeding population, then a couple severe winters back to back really devastates it. It was the Green Pheasant that caught my attention, I haven't seen many populations that can breed true in the wild. I'll try to find out more.
 
FLDBRED said:
Brian, most of the New England states have at least remnant populations of wild ringnecks, although very small. Even Maine from time to time will have a breeding population, then a couple severe winters back to back really devastates it. It was the Green Pheasant that caught my attention, I haven't seen many populations that can breed true in the wild. I'll try to find out more.
Click to expand...

Along those lines, here are two maps I found interesting regarding wild pheasants in Massachusetts. Huge difference between "then and now". Nevertheless, they're still there:).

http://massaudubonblogs.typepad.com/massbirdatlas/2009/11/interim-report-18-ringnecked-pheasant.html
 
Thanks 1pheas4, can never get enough information! Whenever I hear a state mentioned, it doesn't matter what state, one of the first things I ask myself is,does it have a pheasant population. Crazy huh!
 
FLDBRED said:
Thanks 1pheas4, can never get enough information! Whenever I hear a state mentioned, it doesn't matter what state, one of the first things I ask myself is,does it have a pheasant population. Crazy huh!
Click to expand...

Maybe a little crazy, but what can we do about it? lol I love getting news of wild birds living in New England and other areas of the country where we wouldn't expect them to be living:thumbsup:.

You've probably read my story about a wild rooster I witnessed just outside of Boston in October 2008. What a great feeling that was knowing that 10 minutes from where I was staying there were wild pheasants!;)
 
Although not a pheasant, I spotted what appeared to be a spruce grouse in South Jersey a few weeks ago. It was in an area that is not huntable and I assume that's why it made it. It's the first grouse I've ever seen. I'd love to see a sustainable grouse/pheasant/quail population in south jersey again, but alas I AM TO BLAME as I haven't made an effort to join or attend our local pheasant/quail/grouse forever meetings.
 
Twoodward- You can still help out with PF. I was at the multi-state meeting and a guy from the NJ chapter was there. He is part of the only PF chapter in NJ but they seemed like they were doing a lot. I'm sure they could use any help you could offer. They are trying to help the wild birds that are still in NJ.
 
twoodward15 said:
Although not a pheasant, I spotted what appeared to be a spruce grouse in South Jersey a few weeks ago. It was in an area that is not huntable and I assume that's why it made it. It's the first grouse I've ever seen. I'd love to see a sustainable grouse/pheasant/quail population in south jersey again, but alas I AM TO BLAME as I haven't made an effort to join or attend our local pheasant/quail/grouse forever meetings.
Click to expand...

twoodward15,

The grouse you spotted in South Jersey was a Ruffed Grouse, and although there is a wild population in the south, they are more common in the North West part of the state. In fact there are a few "specialist" that do ok every year. One prominent Setter guy in North East Pa. makes it a point to hunt the Kittitinney Mts. in NJ every season.

It was Mr. Bobwhite that was the king of the uplands in South Jersey. Until very recently, if you did your homework, you could plan a hunt for WILD quail and expect some action. The quail had been on a steady decline, but back to back severe winters really desimated their numbers.They have not recovered.


There is a VERY good Woodcock migration through parts of Southern NJ,offering some excellent opportunities for dog work.
 
I went out today to try and get some photo's of NJ's wild pheasant. I was unable to get any pictures of them, but we did flush a few. The pictures above show just one of the areas.

We did however see over 30 woodcock, that's right over 30, today is March 15th. I took pictures but you can barely see them.
 
Here's a picture of one of the woodcock! If you follow the branch in the center of the picture, he is just to the right. Sorry for the quality.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top