{{YT: VID=eooz64tQXVw;}}
Hand-reared released pheasants that survive shooting do not breed well. Research shows that with good habitat and limited predation, juvenile released birds might produce only one chick for every ten produced by wild birds. Adult released birds (i.e. those that survive a second season) do better but these are uncommon on shoots.
For breeding pheasant populations our past and recent research work has shown again and again that there are three core management considerations when aiming to improve breeding success. These are:
a) Effective predator control during the spring
b) a programme of spring supplementary feeding
c) the provision of good nesting and brood rearing habitat.
While these things are important for both wild and released birds, because the latter are intrinsically less able to breed well, you can argue that even greater attention needs to be paid to them. For many release shoots this is a daunting task so what would be useful is to look more closely at some of the specific issues with the released birds. Our recent research work in this area indicates it is worth focussing on these, often neglected areas:
a) Maintain predator control throughout the spring – the released birds are vulnerable not just during and after nesting, but straight after the end of shooting.
b) Think about the inability of the released birds to adapt to a wild diet as soon as shooting finishes. Use numerous hoppers and keep them topped up to build up the reserves that provide the strength to both lay their eggs and sit on them for 25 days!
c) Look specifically at the relationship between nesting cover and brood rearing cover on your site. Can released pheasant hens easily lead their new born chicks to the high protein insects that they will need in the first 6 days of their lives?
Our research at a major release site in 2011 indicated that attention to these things can make a big impact and provides an insight into the art of the possible when a package of measures is in place. The vital statistics at this site were impressive:
- 56% of released hens produced a nest of which 54% hatched successfully
- Of these hatched nests, 75% produced chicks to fledging.
- So 100 hens alive on 1st March could produce: 56 nests x 0.54 = 30 successful nests. 30 nests x 0.75 = 22.5 broods surviving to fledging
- Assuming brood size at fledging is 3: 22.5 x 3 = 67 wild poults.
a) The genetic origin of released birds
b) the rearing environment and pre-release management
c) density related factors on release shoots.
Both a) and b) affect the behaviour of individuals, for example to avoid predators, and b) affects the physiology of released birds as well, for example the ability to adapt to a wild diet. The third factor c) is important in determining whether parasites and disease on a site can become a significant factor for breeding and this is more likely to be a problem on release based shoots.
Teasing out the effects of these things and looking for clear solutions is the aim of our next programme of work in this area. In the meantime it is useful just to have them at the back of your mind when making management decisions in relation to, for example, purchasing eggs or chicks, managing a rearing facility or deciding about where and how many to release.
More generally, it is useful to refer to some of the game management information available from the GWCT in leaflets and elsewhere. They contain a wide variety of specific management recommendations in relation to predator control, spring feeding and habitat provision for pheasants.
Points to Remember
We have been able to identify that when the basic elements of good habitat potential with no significant disease/parasite problems some relatively straightforward measures can be taken that can lead to some considerable success.
- Proper feeding from the end of the shooting season to enable hen birds to build up their nutritional strength to undertake the arduous task of nesting and bring up young birds
- Thorough predator control during this period.
- Relocating feeders from inside woods to field edges as the birds like to graze.
- Retaining game cover till the spring to provide food and cover during this period, many shoots remove it immediately after the season.
- Provision of suitable insect rich brood rearing habitat
- Our choice of study site for 2011 aimed to provide an insight into the art of the possible.
