Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-26

this bird its name 'bObwhlte. Ii
is the best known game bird through
out the United States, generally quai
through the north where the ruffet
grouse is called "partridge." But
Bob-white is often called partridge
in the southern states. 1t is bird
highly sought by the sportsmen, q
bird that is valuable friend of the
farmer.
In our Oregon country, Bob-white
is loved by all. Since his coming
many years ago, there has never been
an open season in this state. No bird
gladdens the heart of the Oregon
farmer more than Bob-white as he
calls from the top of an old rail fence,
for the larger part of our farmers
knew him in barefoot days among the
hills of the eastern states. He is the
friend and companion about the gar
den and field. His call means glad
ness and satisfaction. To some of
my farmer friends, he is always an
optimist. If shower is needed, one
may hear Bob-white calling-"More-
wet! More-wet!" After a dreary
downpour, that has lasted for several
days, Bob-white is sure to mount an
old brush heap and sing just as con-
acknowledgements! No-more-
wet! No-more-wet."
The history of the introduction of
the Bob-white quail into Oregon
would be very interesting if it were
complete. A few birds were brought
In from the east thirty or thirty-fve
years ago and liberated in the Will
lamette valley.
Mr.. J. H. Raley of Pendleton writes
that during the fall of 1893 he secur-
ed sixty Bob-white quail from the
Willamette valley and liberated them
on Mckay creek on the place where
he was then living. This accounts
for the coveys of Bob-white quail
along the Umatilla river west of PEN
dleton. During the summer of 1911,
I heard several Bob-white quail call
ing on the grounds of the state hospit-
al near Pendleton. They thrive well
in the patches of willow and cotton
wood along the river.
Years ago, Bob-white quail were in
troduced into the Boise valley in Ida
no and from this point they have un-
doubtedly spread to eastern Oregon in
the vicinity of Vale and Ontario in
Malheur county and along the Snake
river in Wallowa county.
Bob-white are also found in the
northern part of Umatilla county and
it may be these birds spread north
from those that were introduced at
Pendleton in 1893; or they may pos
sibly have been introduced by some
one in that locality.
During the summer of 1899 while
on cruise up the Willamette river
with Herman T. Bohlman, we saw and
heard Bob-white quail near Indepen-
dence. They were not uncommon at
that time in the country around Salem
and south to Independence.
During the spring of 1908, heard
Bob-white quail at Risley station
between Portland and Oregon City.
During the early spring of 1909, l
frequently heard Bob-white quail call
ing in the vicinity of Jennings Lodge.
! am very sure pair nested in that
locality, but after the summer was
over | saw nothing more of these
birds, nor were they there during the
following year, They were likely kill
ed by house cats.
In September of 1912, | saw three
different focks of Bob-white quail
within distance of mile or so of
Sherwood in the southeastern part of
Washington county.
Mr.. C. C. Bryan, deputy game war
den of Corvallis, reports that on May
20, 1912, he heard numbers Of Bob
white quail calling about three miles
west of Lebanon. He reports that
during 1911, he saw but very few of
these quail in the southern part of
Benton county, but in 1912, the birds
had materially increased in that local
ity.
During the fall of 1911, Mr.. George
Russell, deputy game warden at Gas
ton, reports seeing a number of coveys
Of Bob-white quail in Polk, Benton
and Linn counties. |,
Bob-white quail are now fairly COM
mon in the Willamette valley from the
foothills of the Cascades west to the
foothills of the Coast range, and from
Oregon City south to Albany, and es-
,ecially in the vicinity of Corvallis
md north to Dallas, McMinnville and
Forest Grove. At the present time,
hey are perhaps more abundant in
ARTS of Benton, Polk, Yamhill and ,
darion counties than in any other
arts Of the state. During the win
ers of 1913 and 1914, about 200 of
hese birds were trapped in Yamhill $
ounty, near McMinnville, and liber- !
ted in other parts of the state. Dur 1
lg the winters of 1914 and 1915, over 4
l. l.