MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 47 



One of the difficulties at the Warm Springs farm is the shortness of the 

 season due to climatic conditions. All members of the quail and partridge 

 families are late breeders. As a result it was impossible for any great num- 

 ber of these species to be matured in the fall and be in I'eadiness to withstand 

 the rigorous winter weather. 



The partridge family is a stury, hardy race and there is great hope for it 

 in Montana. The birds are able to live without water for long periods and 

 can survive on very little vegetation. The Chukar has gained the characteriza- 

 tion of "the bird that lives on nothing." As there is a considerable amount of 

 semi-arid land in the state, there is no reason to believe that they will not 

 become as numerous as our first friend, the Hungarian partridge. 



While the Billings farm will be in the nature of an experiment station, 

 Chinese and Mongolian pheasant propagation will continue at the Warm 

 Springs unit and as many will be liberated from the pens there in the future 

 as have been in the past. 



With the Warm Springs output and the additional bird yield of the Bill- 

 ings farm, the outlook for Montana bird hunting looks exceptionally bright. 

 The two farms should yield a sufficient number of birds to satisfy even the 

 most disgruntled of sportsmen. Happy days are indeed ahead for Montana 

 bird hunters! 



Montana, with as many varying types of weather as there are colors in a 

 cock pheasant, presents at times, almost insurmountable obstacles in the rais- 

 ing and distribution of these birds. 



Because of drought conditions in northern, northeastern, eastern and cen- 

 tral sections of the state, liberation of birds necessarily was discontinued in 

 1936. Lack of water and feed conditions made this action mandatory. If 

 birds had been planted there they would have perished. 



However, more birds were liberated in counties adjoining the drought dis- 

 tricts in 1936 than in previous years, so that when normal conditions return 

 they will migrate into those sections. In addition, when normal conditions 

 return the drought counties will receive heavier plantings of birds, the object 

 being to give each county a fair share and an even break. 



As the years go by it is becoming more apparent that distribution must 

 be made as conditions warrant rather than by strict county planting. Before 

 the birds are liberated now a survey is made by competent persons and it is 

 definitely and scientifically determined if the surroundings, available feed and 

 environment are of such a nature as to prove advantageous for the birds. 



To aid territories where feed and cover are in abundance, the Commission 

 next spring will obtain Caragana plants from the University of Montana at 

 Missoula and plant them on farm lands with the permission of the owners. 

 This project will be of great benefit to bird life and will subsequently prove 

 its value to Montana sportsmen. 



Because of the severe winter of 1935-36, climaxed by the late February 

 blizzard of 1936, the State Fish and Game Commission authorized the con- 

 struction of self-feeders and shelters for the winter feeding birds. Approxi- 

 mately 250 of these automatic feeders have been placed in suitable spots over 

 the state where the birds congregate and feed in winter. These locations are 

 designated by deputy game wardens after careful surveys. Heavy loss of 

 birds in the future will be avoided by this practice. 



