Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
conservation implications, chukars, United States, Alectoris chukar
College
Life Sciences
Department
Biology
Abstract
The Chukar (Alectoris chukar) is a medium-sized gallinaceous bird native to the Middle East and Asia first released in North America in 1893 in Illinois (Cottam et al. 1940). The sheer scale of subsequent releases is astonishing. Between 1931 and 1970 over 800,000 birds were released in 41 states (Hawaii included) and six Canadian provinces (Christensen 1970). Many of the initial introductions failed; however, wild populations were noted in a few western states as early as the 1940’s (Christensen 1996). Currently, persistent self-sustaining wild populations are found in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and British Columbia, Canada (Christensen 1996). Chukars now occupy roughly 252,800 square kilometers of habitat in North America and an additional 578 square kilometers in Hawaii on the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii (Christensen 1996).
Recommended Citation
Larsen, Randy T. and Flinders, Dr. Jerran T.
(2013)
"Conservation Implications of Chukars (Alectoris chukar) in the United States,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 1016.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1016