Foreign Game Bird

Foreign Game Bird

Stocks Expanded

The Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries has recently completed the release of approximately 5,000 exotic game birds produced at the State Game Farm during the past season. The releases were made in twenty-three counties representing all sec tions of the state. Individual re leases, normally consisting of approximately 100 birds, are made in areas providing good combinations of feed and cover conditions and public in terest. The introduced birds spread along travel lanes of good feed and cover and become established in a widening network of new areas.

Sportsmen for many years have been wondering why the pheasants so common in north ern states could not be established in Virginia and other southern states. The reason, apparently, has to do with climatic adaptation. The northstates pheasants are. principally. of Chinese and Mongolian strains, from homelands of rigorous winter climates. but subspecies of these same strains do inhabit Old World warm climates that are comparable to our southern states climate. Virginia is cooperating with other southern states and the L'. S. Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife in bring ing foreign game species to Virginia from climates and habitat types that are similar to what we have to offer. The results are promising. The principal prerequisite to ultimate establishment on a huntable basis is protection and a general helping hand by sportsmen, farmers and the general public. Meanwhile, the Game Commission solicits information from all persons whp chance to see the birds in their new haunts. Leg band numbers found on birds killed by automobiles and trains, predators, or other causes are of particular interest and should be reported to local : game wardens or sent to the Richmond office of the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries. All of the introduced species are Drotecred