40 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



Ptarmigan 



Tn 1903 and again in 1904 and 1905, attempts were made to seelire 

 ptarmigan from Alaska for planting on Mount Shasta and in the Lake 

 Tahoe region. Although fifty pairs at $10.00 per pair were contracted 

 for, not even one pair was forthcoming. From a scientific standpoint 

 the ptarmigan seems to be a species likely to thrive on the high Sierra 

 Nevada above timberline ; the conditions there closely resemble those 

 of the ptarmigan's native habitat and no other grouse or quail is 

 present there with which it would have to compete. The failure to 

 make the trial is therefore particularly regrettable. 



Factors Concerned in Acclimatization op Game Birds 



With the above review of attempts to acclimatize non-native game 

 birds in California before us, let us try to determine what has pre- 

 vented their success. Palmer and Oldys (1904, p. 27) name three 

 factors wliich seem to them of special importance as obstacles to the 

 introduction of foreign species. 



Migratory habits, cost, and inadequate protection . . . tend to restrict suc- 

 cessful acclimatization of game birds. Little., if any, success, has resulted from 

 the introduction of migratory species and even in the case of resident birds 

 preference for certain kinds of food or cover enter largely into the question 

 of success. Present prices of pheasants . . . and of certain kinds of water- 

 fowl are so high that they practically prevent the importation of these birds 

 in large numbers. Most foreign birds require special protective legislation, 

 but many of the laws thus far enacted are unsatisfactory. 



Tested by these three factors we must admit that the birds selected 

 for introduction into California show themselves to have been well 

 fitted for the enterprise. The pheasants, quails, and Avild turkeys 

 were all of non-migratory races, Avere not unreasonably expensive 

 (with the possible exception of the turkey), and were given special 

 legislative protection. What, then, was at fault? 



The inherent ability of a bird to adapt itself to a new and different 

 wild environment is the principal matter for consideration in any 

 attempt to acclimatize it. This adaptability cannot be suddenly 

 altered by human effort. Man-controlled factors, such as cost and 

 protection, are of secondary importance. The only remaining factor 

 is that of external environment, and tliough we cannot directly control 

 it, we can do so indirectly by a ])roi)er selection of locality. Just as 

 the Caucasian race of man thrives best in a certain restricted climatic 

 belt the world around, so do animal species prosper most under cer- 

 tain limited conditions of temperature and humidity. The most 

 important single factor controlling the distribution of animal life in 



