Detroit Pheasants

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Detroit Pheasants

February 22, 2012 by Charlie Z

On my bicycle travels in Detroit I see lots of birds. There are the proverbial pigeons that seem to hang out in the parking lots downtown. They never seem to move as I ride near them, almost standing in defiance, daring me to hit them. I also see them on rooftop overhangs doing what they do best, making a mess of the sidewalks below. Canadian Geese are everywhere along the riverfront and seem to have taken over many areas of Belle Isle Park. Like their pigeon friends, they too can leave quite a mess.

I’ve heard cardinals singing long before I spot them, and Red-winged Blackbirds love the cattail plants and bogs near the canals on the far eastside of the city. Plus, there are the everyday robins, woodpeckers, sparrows, grackles and many others that make Detroit their home.

Surprisingly, game birds, in particular Ring-necked Pheasants, are not that uncommon in Detroit. I see the plump, copper-colored, red-faced birds quite a bit as I ride through sparsely populated streets, now lined with fields and grassy prairies. Sometimes they are standing in the street, oblivious to their surroundings, pecking away at whatever it is they eat. As I approach them, they tend to scurry, rather than fly, into a nearby desolate field or overgrown lot. Once there, they stand silently and motionless in the brush watching me slowly pedal by, hoping I don’t spot them.

Pheasants are quick to run and hide in the brush

As I found out early on while riding along the city’s many fields, they are low flying birds. One of the first pheasants I saw on my bike rides nearly flew into my helmet. I was pedaling along, minding my own business, when one of the 2-lb birds sprang from the nearby brush and came right at me. It scared me half to death as I ducked low to avoid a possible collision. A bird of that size could do some serious damage to an unsuspecting bicyclist like yours truly.

Since then, I’ve encountered the flying birds many times. Frequently, I’ve been startled to a point of near heart attack, especially when I scare them up while riding across some field. Not so much because of their size, but the loud, distinct wing flapping sound they make upon takeoff. It’s a low piercing, shuttering sound that reminds me somewhat of rapid gun fire.

A colorwall pheasant wall painting in Detroit

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged belle isle park, canadian geese, far eastside, pigeon friends, red winged blackbirds, ring necked pheasants | 14 Comments

14 Responses

on February 22, 2012 at 9:06 am | Reply DC Dave

If only we could record that! would love to see these guys in action.
- on February 22, 2012 at 7:46 pm | Reply Charlie Z
  
  Hi DC -
  
  Yes, problem is you never know if they are around and if so, they my not fly. The sound their wings make upon takeoff is frightening and amazing. I can always tell when the city tractors are mowing the empty lots, the pheasants are flying everywhere.
  
  Charlie
on February 22, 2012 at 12:20 pm | Reply J Hite

Yep, I’ve seen them too…in the Brush/Ferry area, once near the river….and this was probably 10 years ago. I don’t know how they got here, but it gladdens my heart.
- on February 22, 2012 at 7:51 pm | Reply Charlie Z
  
  Hi J -
  
  Wow Brush/Ferry, haven’t seen them that close to midtown Detroit, very cool. Not sure how they got here as well, but it’s nice to see them.
  
  Thanks for checking out my blog.
  
  Charlie
on February 23, 2012 at 8:37 am | Reply DC Dave

You may need to get a 20 gage shotgun and do some Pheasant hunting in the fall!
- on February 23, 2012 at 6:47 pm | Reply Charlie Z
  
  Hey DC,
  
  Great idea! Could be some easy pickings!
on February 24, 2012 at 11:15 am | Reply Sven Gustafson

We used to get them in our yard a lot when we lived in Woodbridge. And you could tell when they’d been around by the unique tracks their long tails leave in the snow.

I can imagine how nearly being struck by a flying pheasant while bicycling would be startling. Jeez.
- on February 26, 2012 at 6:35 pm | Reply Charlie Z
  
  Hi Sven -
  
  Really, I would think that’s a pretty compact neighborhood for them. Maybe we should rename them Urban Pheasants. Yes, it is heart stopping when those big birds come at you on a bike. They are low flyers at takeoff, much like a jet plane.
  
  Charlie
  - on February 27, 2012 at 2:15 pm Sven Gustafson
    
    We lived on Lincoln Street, which is much less compact than Avery or Commonwealth. So we had a big yard.
  - on February 27, 2012 at 9:19 pm Charlie Z
    
    Hi Sven -
    
    Ah, makes sense they’d be more likely to be there with the bigger yards. That’s still a pretty urban urban environment as compared to the open fields on the eastside or north Corktown for example.
    
    Charlie
on February 27, 2012 at 6:46 pm | Reply Czarina313

It’s nice to see them thriving. I heard they escaped from the Eastern Market back when you could get really fresh poultry.
- on February 27, 2012 at 9:14 pm | Reply Charlie Z
  
  Hi Czarina -
  
  It is nice to see them around! It’s a bit of the country in the city. Makes sense that they may have escaped from the market. I do remember seeing them there years ago.
  
  Thanks for the comment.
  
  Charlie
on February 27, 2012 at 8:51 pm | Reply Linda Dallas

I’ve had them fly at my car driving on Atwater with my windows down. Pretty scary in the car, I sure 100 times more scary on a bike. When I’ve parked to try to get a picture, they always disappear in the tall grass.
- on February 27, 2012 at 9:12 pm | Reply Charlie Z
  
  Hi Linda -
  
  Those birds are like bombs or something coming at you aren’t they? I know what you mean about them disappearing in the grass when tryng to get a picture. Sometimes I think they move quicker on their legs than they do with their wings.
  
  Keep your camera ready!
  
  Thanks for checking out my blog.
  
  Charlie