I guess they must be eating well this winter, or their feathers are REALLY fluffed up to keep them warm, because lately the pheasants have looked like pumpkins with feathers! I’ve noticed a lot of portly, plump birds recently.

This particular fella and his friends were hanging out within 50 feet of the van as I loaded my video gear near Underwood yesterday. They didn’t seem too put out by the fact that some strange looking dude was working his way toward them with his camera, at least until I got pretty close. Then they simply sauntered off to the thick brush to hide out for a while.

Upon close observation, I think that the pheasant is quite possibly the stupidest of all feathered creatures, often nonchalantly walking toward speeding vehicles bearing down on them. At least they seem to be strong in number this winter, a fact I’m sure the hunters will be pleased about the next time hunting season comes around. Until then, people like me will hunt them with our telephoto lenses instead.