New Practices for Supplementary Gamebird Feeding

[Cara J]

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush, the old saying goes. But a bird feeder can be worth a lot more to farmers in England who participate in Environmental Stewardship, an agri-environmental program that encourages farmers to provide habitat and food to declining gamebird populations. A study published recently in The Journal of Wildlife Management shows how farmers and game managers can maximize efficiency when it comes to supplementary feeding of gamebirds. The study looked at the distribution of grain from birdfeeders among various species of wildlife and how much of the food was being delivered to the target species. In this case, the target species were ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), gray partridges (Perdix perdix) and red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) across three lowland farms in southern England. Lead author Carlos Sánchez-García along with researchers Francis Buner and Nicholas Aebischer found that in order to most effectively feed gamebirds and minimize visitation by rodents and other species, feeders must be placed strategically and moved often. In areas with efficient rodent control, the researchers suggest placing feeders along hedgerows and in open fields in areas with no rodent control. Contrary to popular belief, feeders also should be moved every [...]

 

Read more: http://wildlife.org/new-practices-for-supplementary-gamebird-feeding/