A couple of Kalij Pheasants have moved into the neighborhood. They spend most of their time at the unoccupied property next door, but wander up into my yard on occasion. When I went out to take photos, this one beat a hasty retreat.
I usually see Kalij Pheasants on hikes off Saddle Road or in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I don’t remember ever seeing them at home, so I was surprised when I saw two striding down the driveway. One immediately headed into cover, but other carried on for a while before slipping into the cane grass.
This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Red, White, & Blue.’ See more responses here.
Here’s my selection this week with captions on the photos.
Recently, I heard a soft chucking noise up in a Kiawe tree that was certainly not from one of the usual residents in the area. So I grabbed my camera and circled the tree trying to locate the source. It turned out to be this female Kalij Pheasant, a bird I almost always see on the ground.
The pheasant clambered through the branches as I tried to get a clear shot. Eventually, it found a good spot and stayed still, as pheasants do, and I was able to get close enough to snap a couple of photos.
Kalij Pheasaants are native to Southern Asia. They were brought to Hawaii in 1962 as game birds.
I saw this ring-necked pheasant scurrying through the tall grass off Old Saddle Road. It doesn’t exactly blend in with its surroundings, not a good trait for a game bird.
I saw this male Kalij pheasant, with two others, alongside the Powerline Trail, off Saddle Road. I hadn’t noticed them while walking through the trees on the dead-straight trail, but I became aware of a slight but steady clucking sound and stopped to locate it. The birds were picking their way through some dense undergrowth and seemed not the least bit bothered by my presence. Perhaps they were aware it wasn’t one of the days when archery hunting is permitted.
For more information about the Powerline Trail, go to bigislandhikes.com/puu-oo-trail/.
Graham's Island 