Attracting Swainson’s Francolin through provision of winter resources

18 Dec 2009 - by Dr Aldo Berruti

In South Africa, one usually increases the numbers of guineafowl, francolins and partridges by management aimed at existing populations of such birds. Introduction of birds (either captive or wild-bred) is seldom practised in South Africa. With the admitted exception of two species (Swainson's Francolin into KwaZulu-Natal many years ago, and assumed widespread introductions of Helmeted Guineafowl into the Western and Eastern Cape), introductions fail to establish wild-breeding populations. (If you do know of a successful introduction programme in South Africa, please let me know, as each successful introduction provides very useful information).

On the Highveld, Swainson’s Francolins are common where there is substantial food (usually maize) and good cover. However, much of the cover vanishes during winter through grazing, fires (planned and runaway), ploughing and through burning or cutting headlands. Unlike the Greywing Partridge, which actually prefers shorter grass, Swainson’s requires relatively heavy cover. And so as winter progresses, the Swainson’s retreat to thickets along drainage lines, road reserves, weedy growth and patches of bush as the cover disappears from large stretches of farms. Swainson’s readily forage in open ground, but are very seldom seen more than 50 m from cover.

But how far will a Swainson’s looking for greener pastures move? I am unaware of any research on the subject. It is logical that Swainson’s will move to the nearest cover with suitable food. In Greylingstad, where fires annually burn the areas surrounding town, some Swainson’s retreat to the edge of the town by late winter and early summer, with the major source of birds presumably from farms 0.5-1 km away over a range of koppies. It seems reasonable Swainson’s will move several kilometres if needed.

Over the winter of 2009, I have watched Swainson’s concentrate in areas were supplemental feeding has taken place on the Lowry farm at Vrede and Raleigh Gordon’s farm at Greylingstad. On Raleigh’s farm, which has a high density of Swainson’s to begin with, the supplemental feeding has created localised pocket of birds, rather than the more evenly widespread summer distribution. On the Lowry’s farm, where there are fewer Swainson’s, the feeding areas (feeding drums in fenced areas) are the major focus of wintering birds and will presumably act as core refuges.

If Swainson’s move away from large open areas, and are attracted by supplemental food, one can easily create localised refuges. Consider your piece of land, on which some Swainson’s occur, as part of broader landscape with a much larger population of Swainson’s. If the area is heavily farmed, the chances are that one or more neighbour’s farms, or parts of farms are denuded by heavy grazing, ploughing, burning or “cleaning” of contours and headlands, or fires. Thus a field with dense cover headlands in which the Swainson’s successfully bred in the last summer, becomes a no-go area for them. If your neighbouring land no longer provides shelter and feeding, then you should be able to attract “evicted” birds to your farm. It is the basis for an effective management mechanism to attract Swainson’s from unsuitable neighbouring areas and so add to your annual home-grown production of chicks by immigration of birds. If your neighbour does not manage his gamebirds effectively, then attracting them to your land will give these birds a better chance of survival into the next breeding season.

What are the actual management steps? Designate several patches of cover, each at least 0.5-1 ha in size, or conserve strips of “dirty cover” along water courses, drainage lines, edges of koppies by not burning or cutting them. These exist on most farms, but perhaps you will need to fence off one or more patches, to keep cattle out. One possibility is to fence part of the edges of dams which will then double as improved habits for waterfowl. Keep in mind the ever-present risk of fire. You can also cut invading bush or alien scrub or trees and pile on ground in suitable areas, so making tangled thickets of say 4 m diameter or more of dried thorns or branches. Gamebirds can creep away within such piles.

Then begin feeding whole mealies in such selected areas, scattering about 1-2 kg twice per week. Whole mealies are cheaper and avoid the cost and effort of crushing mealies, and are too large to be eaten by the smaller seed-eating birds. Initially scatter the mealies on open ground where the birds will easily find them. At a later stage, you can scatter mealies into dense grass or thickets, where small antelope and other furred animals are less likely to find them. Monitor the feeding areas regularly to see how long it takes to disappear and increase or decrease amounts as required. If the feeding successfully attracts birds, you may find that all the maize is eaten in one or two days and then it is time to increase the ration or feed twice per week. You may find that a porcupine or other furry thing begins eating your mealies, so it is important to identify what is eating the mealies, either by direct observation during the day or night, or by looking at tracks. Abandon any feeding point which is dominated by non-target species.

For maximum efficiency, begin feeding when the cover starts disappearing or when the maize fields are ploughed. This will be during the months of July to October. This strategy will also improve the body condition of the birds and allow them to breed earlier when summer comes.

Whilst this is aimed at Swainson’s on the Highveld, the principle of providing late winter cover and food for terrestrial gamebirds which require relatively heavy cover is probably widely applicable to other francolins, including Cape and Natal Francolin. Guineafowl rely on trees for roosting and are much more tolerant of open areas, but this strategy will undoubtedly benefit guineafowl as well.