My experience is that chukars disappear very quickly here, probably 
because of predation, after they are used for field trials or training and 
you are very unlikely to see them the day after they are released.  On the 
other hand, bobwhite which are used the same way may persist in the area for 
quite awhile.
     On the subject of exotic species I had an unusual experience Saturday 
(4-17)  I was walking to the towpath from the parking lot by the 
impoundments when about 1/2 way I  noticed a large whitish bird following me 
while it was foraging.  I stopped to study it and realized it was a Common 
Peafowl in strange plumage- mostly white where it should have been 
black-possibly a young female.  I walked up to it and though it didn't fly I 
don't think I could have caught it.  As I continued on my trip it kept 
walking behind me.  When two hunters came out of the woods the bird 
disappeared in the undergrowth as if it knew they were a threat.  The bird 
followed me all the way to the towpath where it disappeared, probably 
because of the hikers and bicyclists.
      I am not sure if the Buddhist Temple along River Rd has any peacocks 
but in the past a have seen a few near one of the few houses in the area, so 
the origin of this bird is a mystery.

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim and Ann Nelson" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2010 3:08 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Chukar on Sycamore Landing Road, Montgomery County, 
4/18/10


On today's annual Montgomery Bird Club Presidents Walk at Sycamore Landing 
Road in Montgomery County, we met some folks training hunting dogs.  They 
were using Chukars and Himalayan something (name escapes me) to train the 
dogs.  Later in the morning as we drove back down Sycamore Landing Road the 
dog folks were gone, but we saw one of the Chukars on the Road.  So don't be 
surprised to see something exotic if you are birding this area.

Jim Nelson
Montgomery Bird Club
Bethesda, MD