[NatureNS] Suburban Ring-necked Pheasants

Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:30:38 -0300
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
From: "P.L. Chalmers" <plchalmers@ns.sympatico.ca>
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Hi there,

	Several reports of a common bird in unexpected locations lately made 
me wonder if a pattern was emerging,,,

	A few weeks ago at the Frog Pond in Jollimore, HRM I had a long chat 
with a local resident who reported several interesting 
observations.  He clearly knew his birds, and mentioned that the most 
surprising thing he had seen recently was a Ring-necked Pheasant 
(roadkilled) along a nearby stretch of the Purcell's Cove Road.  The 
habitat is all wrong - a well-treed suburban area with mixed mature 
woodland between the houses.  The homes don't have big lawns, and 
there are no large grassy patches - nothing at all like an overgrown 
pasture or golf course.

	Yesterday my parents observed a female Ring-necked Pheasant in their 
front yard.  Again, this is hardly suitable habitat.  We have mixed 
woodland (more coniferous than deciduous), and mature gardens, but 
not open grassy areas.  Ruffed Grouse were occasional visitors in the 
past, until the development of the Ravines of Bedford South wiped out 
the woodland behind us; grouse could be expected, but not these pheasants.

	In the areas with appropriate habitat where I do regularly see RNPH, 
their numbers seem to be increasing.  Is there pressure on them to 
move closer to human habitation?

	Cheers,

	Patricia L. Chalmers
	Halifax

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