PHEASANTS: THEIR HISTORY AND LIFECYCLE
In 1881, Owen Nickerson Denny introduced the Chinese Ringneck Pheasant to Oregon. Owen’s own introduction to the Chinese Ringneck Pheasant began with his career as a consul-general for the U.S. in the city of Shanghai, China.
On several of his trips to China, Owen fell in love with the Chinese Ringneck Pheasant. Securing around 60 pheasants, Owen had them shipped to Port Townsend, Washington. Amazingly the majority of the 60 made it to the U.S. safely, but the next leg of their journey to Oregon by road would be the demise of all but a few pheasants.
Undaunted, Owen released the few remaining pheasants on the Columbia River. Owen would go on to do two more releases of pheasants in 1882, and 1884. Those releases proved successful and the Ringneck Pheasant grew and flourished, spreading from Oregon into Washington and beyond.
WINGED SUCCESS
Using his political connections, Owen was able to secure legislation to protect the pheasant until their population had a chance to thrive and spread. In 1892 the first pheasant season opened and legend has it 50,000 pheasants were bagged on the first day!
Today the pheasant has been introduced in 40 states here in the U. S. South Dakota has named the Ringneck Pheasant as their state bird and is known for their excellent pheasant hunting. Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Montana each have a stake as well in great states to hunt pheasant.
PHEASANT MATING SEASON
Male pheasants have a white feather band around their neck, followed by a beautiful blue green head with contrasting red around the eyes. The hen is colored in muted browns, greys and cream.
Typically pheasants can be found in small groups or individually. Their favorite habitat is tall grassy areas interspersed with small patches of open ground.
Mating season begins in late March. The male pheasant (rooster) begins his crowing and stakes out his territory. The female (hen), attracted to the crowing and wing beating, seeks out the rooster in his territory and the courtship begins.
NESTING AND BROODING
The hen continues to maintain a rigorous eating schedule to prepare herself for egg-laying. Soon after mating, the hen will make a nest in secluded tall grass called a “nesting” area.
Once the nest is complete, she will begin to lay an egg a day. The average nest clutch will consist of 12 eggs. The hen will incubate the eggs herself for a total of 23 days, leaving the nest only twice a day to feed.
Once all her eggs have hatched (usually around mid-June) the hen will move her chicks to a brooding ground that offers the insects necessary for the chick’s diet. During the first five weeks, over 90% of the chick’s initial food source is insects. From six weeks on the chicks get 50% of their food source through insects and the rest through seeds and grain.
Chicks generally hang around their mother for 8-10 weeks and are fully grown by 21 weeks.
PHEASANT FACTS
Some interesting facts from https://pheasantsforever.org/Habitat/Pheasant-Facts.aspx:
- Weight: Male ring-necked pheasants (roosters) average 2 to 3 pounds while their female (hen) counterparts average 2 pounds.
- Length: Males measure 24 to 35 inches long (a rooster’s tail accounts for more than 20 inches of length); hens are smaller with a much shorter tail.
- Flight Speed: 38-48 mph (but can reach up to 60 mph when chased)
- Favorite Foods: Corn, seeds, insects
- Preferred Habitat: Undisturbed grass
- Nest Success: 40-60%
- Hen Success: 50-70%
- Average Rate of Chick Survival: 50%
- Nest Predators: Fox, raccoon, skunk, feral cats
- Adult Predators: Human, fox, hawk, owl
FALL AND WINTER
Once fall begins the pheasants begin their binge eating on large amounts of grains, seeds, and corn- which is their favorite. This provides the pheasant with the necessary carbohydrates to convert to fat. The fat in turn helps the pheasant survive the winter.
Rarely does a pheasant die from old age. The average lifespan of a pheasant is one year. Winter is the hardest season for pheasants. A time when most carnivores seek them out, as well as the wearing down of body fat due to cold, malnutrition, and illness.
Pheasants are a valuable part of grassland ecology and offer a wonderful game sport as well as a dinner table delight. A great addition to any hunting property.
Resources:
- https://www.pheasant.com/facts
- http://www.unlimitedpheasantskfalls.org/index.php/pheasants/life-cycle
- https://www.doityourself.com/stry/life-cycle-of-the-wild-pheasant
- https://pheasantsforever.org/Habitat/Pheasant-Facts.aspx
- http://www.owendenny-pheasantsforever.org/about.html
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