Progress at the AGRED Vrede Conservancy 2006-2008

04 Nov 2008 - By Dr Aldo Berruti

The Vrede project began in 2006, centred on Fairview farm owned by David Lowry and managed by Nic Lowry. The enthusiastic support and participation of both Nic and David have been critical to the project. The object is to develop a model of sustainable and ethical gamebird management and utilisation which can be used widely throughout South Africa.

The first element of the project comprised baseline surveys, followed by research into management practises. The second step in the plan was the development of a conservancy structure with supporting documentation, and a process of involving farmers through one-to-one meets and information days. The final element was to develop the commercial aspect of utilisation through developing shoots for clients. If AGRED is to advise landowners on developing shooting, then experience in the delivery of shooting as a product is a vital element.

Gamebird baseline surveys, biology, and management

Baseline surveys

The survey of gamebird stocks showed that there were sufficient numbers of three gamebird species to support shooting: Greywing Partridge, Helmeted Guineafowl and Yellow-billed Duck. During this period, the number of Greywing Partridge has increased from 118 to 244 (Table 1).

Table 1. Number of coveys, covey size and total numbers of Greywing Partridge at Fairview Farm, Vrede district.

No.of coveys Covey size Total number
June 2006 16 7.4. 118
June 2007 18 8.1 146
June 2008 22 11.1 244

Within this period, the rainfall season of 2006-2007 was one of the worst in living memory. Yet the numbers of Greywing Partridge increased, perhaps in part to improved survey techniques. However, it was clear that the poor rainfall of 2006-2007 did not have marked effect on Greywing Partridge numbers. In addition, a runway fire burnt through much of the area in August 2007, but this too did not negatively impact the numbers of Greywing Partridge. Whilst the coveys temporarily vacated burnt parts of territories, not one covey appears to have been permanently displaced by this fire. 2007-2008 was one of the better rainfall years in living memory, and was characterised by Greywing Partridge breeding from September to May, and an increase in mean covey size from 8.1 to 11.1 and total population numbers to 244.

Biology

Nic Lowry has been gathering crop contents of Helmeted Guineafowl, Greywing Partridge and Swainson’s Francolin on an opportunistic basis throughout the year. During summer, there is an abundance of insects and grass seed. At this time of year, the gamebirds will ignore mealies broadcast onto the ground. As winter approached, so guineafowl, Swainson’s Francolin and Greywing Partridge have turned to uintjies (Cyperus) and maize for food. The aspect of partridges eating maize is the subject of the article titled A breakthrough in gamebird management – partridges and maize. This understanding could prove to be a very significant breakthrough in gamebird management in South Africa.

In 2007, we understood for the first time that Yellow-billed Duck in this area (and probably widely through the maize belt) obtain much food from feeding on maize lands. Maize is important for 3-4 months of year when loose kernels are available on the ground on farmlands.

We have obtained significant insight into the biology of Greywing Partridge biology over the last two years. Apart from the article listed above, read the article on The importance of roads to South African partridges and francolins in this newsletter.

Management

During the last two years, we provided supplemental feed for gamebirds in three ways: gamebird crops, 200 litre drum feeders and broadcasting whole and crushed maize. The gamebird crops failed to grow in the drought year of 2006-2007, whilst free-ranging Fallow Deer in particular consumed most of the crops in the good rainfall year of 2007-2008. Mammal consumption of gamebird crops is a major problem, and even cattle need to be excluded from such crops to ensure their success.

The 200 litre drum feeders were not successful in that they require intensive attention. The feeders need to be protected from damage by cattle, whilst both grey duiker and porcupine have also eaten maize from the feeders. If drum feeders are not locked, it is clear that farm labourers will probably take maize to feed their own chickens. However, it appears that clustering of drum feeders in protected areas may be successful in creating localised densities of Swainson’s Francolin in particular. Such high-density hotspots are very useful if one needs to provide high-density areas for gundog training, field trials, shooting or as reservoir areas for increasing gamebird populations.

However, the technique of broadcasting whole kernels in fields or crushed maize on roads, has produced dramatic surprises. It was found that gamebirds do not eat maize in summer, when natural foods including insects are the primary diet items of Helmeted Guineafowl, Swainson’s Francolin and Greywing Partridge. However, as winter approached, observations showed that Greywing Partridge were eating crushed maize. This provides the prospect of managing Greywing Partridge numbers in food bottleneck months (see article titled A breakthrough in gamebird management – partridges and maize).

Operational structure

Originally, we wanted to develop a conservancy model based self-administration by the participating farmers, and the necessary documentation was drawn up with this in mind. However, whilst farmers were happy to be part of the project, it was clear that they were mainly unavailable to provide additional input of time and energy required to manage a conservancy. Thus the process became AGRED-driven, with the Director interacting directly with farmers. This process worked well, except that it required much more work from AGRED than originally hoped.

Thus the project has moved away from a conservancy model in terms of structure. However, effectiveness is paramount. Success requires significant time by a skilled person able to integrate and adapt various aspects of the operation, as the model is developed. This is particularly true for understanding of gamebird management and detailed knowledge of gamebird number and distribution necessary to run shoots.

It is important to note that farmers often list AGRED’s conservation base as a reason for becoming involved in the project. Another effective claim to credibility by AGRED is the gamebird book available in Afrikaans, which was provided to all potential participants.

Commercial shoot management

We have now run three commercial shoots at Vrede, two of which are reported in this newsletter (see AGRED Shoots in Vrede, June 2008). These shoots resulted in the gaining of a great deal of experience in running successful shoots.

An initial target was to develop Greywing Partridge shooting over pointers because of the high value placed on this form of gamebird shooting. Whilst this has yet to be achieved, excellent gundogs are a vital aspect of gamebird shooting. Matthew Berry of Boavida Kennels provided excellent gundogs for these three shoots. The Natal Field Trial Club also held an event in the conservancy in 2007, which was deemed a success and it will be repeated in 2008.

Packaging of advice for landowners.

A critically important feedback from farmers was the understanding was that advice offered to farmers needed to be within the context of farming practise, cost effective and time-effective.

Conclusions

Progress has been hard-won. Nevertheless, great strides have been made in terms of establishing a viable project of gamebird monitoring and management, combined with a business model for their utilisation. We have obtained effective modes of operation, including surveys. We have developed new knowledge, including an understanding of gamebird dependence on maize, and established a potential technique for managing Greywing Partridge numbers.