Mayhew 1948 March 13 Journal 14 8 miles west of Gridley, Butte Co., Calif. conditions. There are 8 factors that may possibly cause pheasant shortage: (1) mowing hayfields, (2) cars kill birds, (3) poisoning, (4) predators, (5) poachers, (6) Plowing rice fields at nesting time, (7) extreme climatic conditions at critical period of life history of young chicks, (8) fertility. The peak of nesting in that area is at the time of the first mowing of alfalfa. The second mowing catches a few second nestings & kills some hens on the nest. The third mowing catches half-grown chicks. The fourth & fifth mowings are unimportant. As an example of the damage done, on 53 acres, 45 nests & 1/2 birds were found destroyed. There is also a high mortality rate in the only mowing of wetch. The flushing bar is thought to save up to 50% of the birds. However, it had no effect on the general population in the Chico area. Cars were found to have killed 385 pheasants on a 10 mile stretch during the months of July, August & September. This stretch had rice on one side of the road, wheat stubble on the other. As stated before, the birds wouldn't eat enough of the poison grain to kill them. Of 171 nests found, 34 were destroyed by coon, 13 by skunk, 9 by house cats, 2 by