Historic Hood River
The Birds
6-16-2014
Notes
Alva Day’s role in the Game Protective Association involved him in stocking both fish and fowl in the Hood River Valley. Here we see a fresh load of young birds from the State Game Commission ready for relocation. Can someone make a positive ID for these birds?
charlott
I can only guess, but possibly pheasants. Looks from the hills across the way that this might have been over in the area of the airport.
When I was a child there were quite a few pheasants in the area around our ranch. We would hear them and see them frequently. Many of their nests were destroyed by predators, plowing or orchards and no doubt spray had an effect on them. There seemed to be a time after I was grown you just didn’t see them that often. Here a couple of years ago I almost had a collison on Fir Mountain Road with a low flying rooster. First one I had seen in a very long time.
RHD
I believe they are Grouse.
l.e.
I can’t do a positive ID but odds are in favor of pheasant chicks. Both Washington and Oregon game departments did large pheasant release programs back in the 40’s and 50’s.
Back then, there were more small farmers and they grew grain crops which provided feed. Fence lines had hedge rows for hiding and nesting.
I doubt if they are grouse. Grouse are almost impossible to raise in captivity. Too big for chukar or quail chicks.
Possibly turkey chicks.
charlott
Never saw any grouse. Not saying there weren’t any, but if they were you certainly didn’t see them. Not quail, as quail babies are tiny and just fluff balls. Never saw any wild turkeys when I was little. It is my understanding that the ones we have now and there are quite a few if you know where to look for them came over the hills and were not planted here.
l.e.
The one perched outside, already looks like a hen pheasant.
That is quite the set up. By the amount of bird poop on the little roof, it looks like the wagon has been parked there for a while. It looks like it is already parked inside of a game farm fence.
I understand the lower feeding and watering level, and the upper level where they can come out and sun themselves and eventually fly off.
But, what are the stacked up boxes on the right side for?
Bill Seaton
There used to be good grouse hunting up behind Mosier.
bob kreitler
hen pheasant
longshot
What is the odd face like thing in the background off to the right of the photo?
Are those pneumatic tires or hard rubber ones on the truck?
Kenn
Tires are pneumatics
Carrie L
They look like grouse to me.