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A New AGRED Sandgrouse Research Programme (08 Aug 2011)

AGRED has received funding from E. Oppenheimer & Son to further research sandgrouse at Tswalu Desert Reserve. The first two years of work aims to measure recruitment into the adult populations of Namaqua and Burchell’s Sandgrouse using juvenile plumage and soft part colouration. If successful, this will provide a new accurate and simple tool for measuring recruitment. If as we suspect, that Namaqua Sandgrouse numbers are maintained by occasional good years, then one needs to measure recruitment over several years to accurately gauge ‘average’ recruitment.

This methodology has been partly developed for Burchell’s Sandgrouse (Berruti & Stainthorpe 2007), and soft-part colouration and family groups size work gave initial estimates of recruitment of 22% at Tswalu (Berruti & Stainthorpe 2007), higher than most figures reported for Namaqua Sandgrouse (Lloyd et al. 2000).
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Recent AGRED Consultancies (08 Aug 2011)

AGRED offers consultancies on the management of gamebirds and on the potential of land for gamebird shooting, either for commercial or private usage. Recently Director Aldo Berruti visited two Free State properties to advise the owners on the potential of their land to support shootings, and management options to improve gamebirds numbers. A summary of the consultancies is given in the news article.

AGRED’s management advice seeks to empower the owner or manager, by establishing and explaining the principles and the measures by which that person can further develop the management of birds and monitor their numbers.
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The increase in the numbers of Greywing Partridge at Fairview Farm, Vrede, 2006-2011 (08 Aug 2011)

Summary

This paper reports the increase in the numbers of Greywing Partridge Scleroptila africanus at Fairview farm, Vrede district, Free State between 2006 and 2011.

Birds were surveyed in April/May every year using vehicle-based surveys of calling coveys over dawn and dusk. Covey size was based on direct counts as well as flushing of coveys using trained gundogs. During this time, the number of coveys increased every year from 118 birds in 16 coveys to 385 birds in 46 coveys in 2011. Covey size varied between 7.4 and 11.1 and reached a maximum in 2008. The increase in partridge numbers results mainly from changes in land-use from an overgrazed state to greater grass cover as the basis of an extensive cattle grazing system. Other factors, namely supplementary feeding of gamebirds, planting of silk sorghum, elimination of poisoning and reduction in number of human settlements are also considered to have beneficial effects.

For a copy of the full paper please contact the AGRED Office at agred@netdial.co.za More...

The road to good provincial gamebird shooting regulations (18 Dec 2009)

AGRED has been driving the development of sensible regulations in partnership with SA Wingshooters through the Wingshooting Task team of the Wildlife Forum, which is a meeting of the hunting industry, provincial and national conservation departments. There have been two meetings of the Wingshooting Task team, in 2007 and 2009, aimed at bringing about greater uniformity in “ordinary” gamebirds species, bags and seasons.

This interactive approach will probably require another three years or more, to ensure that all provinces are aware of the arguments and issues. We hope that a common basis for national understanding will promote more robust and uniform provincial regulations.  More...

Management of guineafowl and francolins on bushveld game farms (18 Dec 2009)

The potential of gamebird shooting as part of the massive game ranching industry in South Africa is enormous. Game ranches occur throughout South Africa, covering 17 million hectares. If gamebird densities could be increased on game ranches, it would certainly help persuade managers to consider offering high-quality gamebird shoots to adding diversity and value to the usual furred game hunting options.

This article is about managing gamebirds in the bushveld of northern and eastern South Africa. It is based on Mark Berry’s two decades of experience in managing gamebirds on his game ranch, Mmabolela Estates, in north-western Limpopo. More...

Attracting Swainson’s Francolin through provision of winter resources (18 Dec 2009)

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.

This article describes supplemental feeding techniques and 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.  More...

The Patrysuinjtjie (27 Jul 2009)

Many people know the Cyperus sedge plant eaten by francolins and partridges.

In the Vrede area, we have found that Guineafowl, Swainson’s francolin and even Greywing partridge consume the corms. The Cyperus is source of energy, oils and minerals, and is a vital winter food in this area for these species, and probably for the Orange River Partridge as well.

South African farmers have a different view of the patrysuintjie, which is a competitive weed that is highly resistant to herbicides such as Roundup. It reproduces vegetatively (not by seed) and can become extremely abundant amongst crops such as soya bean. This is a clear example of the benefits that gamebirds can bring in consuming a pest species.
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Surveying Greywing and Orange River Partridges (25 Jul 2009)

How many gamebirds – this is the basis of any sustainable shooting. Amongst the most difficult birds to census are the partridges and francolins.

This article reports on the techniques which AGRED has used at Vrede for surveying Greywing and Orange River Partridges, and which are a combination of road visual counts, dog counts and call counts. It produces an effective total count for a farm of 4 000 ha.

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Progress at the AGRED Vrede Conservancy 2006-2008 (04 Nov 2008)

The Vrede project began in 2006, centred on Fairview farm owned by David Lowry and managed by Nic Lowry. The object is to develop a model of sustainable and ethical gamebird management and utilisation which can be used widely throughout South Africa. The elements involved in developing this model are described in this article.


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The importance of roads to South African partridges and francolins (04 Nov 2008)

Every gamebird enthusiast knows that francolins and partridges appear on roads in the early morning and late afternoon, and are usually absent from roads during the middle of the day.

We have been studying and monitoring Greywing Partridge Scleroptila africanus and Swainson’s Francolin Pternistis swainsonii at Fairview Farm, Vrede District since 2006. Many hours of personal observation have generated possible reasons as to why this behaviour occurs.  More...

A new understanding of the Yellow-billed Duck in South Africa (17 Oct 2007)

The pivotal importance of maize in the ecology of the Yellow-billed Duck in South Africa has not been fully recognised.

The development of AGRED’s Vrede gamebird conservancy has provided a new understanding on the ecology of the Yellow-billed Duck. More...

The AGRED viewpoint on Gamebird species, bags and seasons (30 May 2007)

Several AGRED and CHASA members have contacted AGRED for an opinion on a recently-published proposal for a standardised list of gamebird species, bags and limits for all South African provinces. The same proposal was tabled at a March meeting of the Wildlife Forum (a meeting of national, provincial and government agencies and the hunting industry). In short, AGRED has substantive differences with the proposal. More...

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