Sustainable management of a wild pheasant population in Austria.

Abstract

Over the last few decades the proportion of harvested pheasants which are derived from wild stock has declined throughout Europe (Hill and Robertson, 1988; Tapper, 1999; Csányi, 2000), to the extent that pheasant shooting in many countries is largely dependant on captive-reared released birds. Due to the large number of birds released it is difficult to determine the status of wild populations, but they are thought to be declining in several NW European countries (Campbell et aI., 1997). The main factors responsible for the decline in wild pheasants are related to agricultural intensification (Hill, 1985; Potts, 1991). The productivity of wild gamebirds is also dependant on predation pressure (Tapper et al., 1996; Sage and Robertson, 2000). The reliance of hunting on released birds not only reduces the need to control predators, but high concentrations of reared game can attract predators (Tapper, 1999) which can further impact on wild populations. However, local populations of wild pheasants where a significant harvest of wild birds can be achieved still exist in some countries.
One such place is Seefeld Estate in Lower Austria. Although wild pheasant densities have declined here, compared to 30 years ago, numbers have been maintained to the extent that a sustainable harvest has been possible each year. This has been achieved in a region where there has been a long term decline in the wild pheasant population (Figure I), and in common with the rest of western Europe, considerable changes in farming practice have taken place which are widely regarded as being detrimental to wild game production. These changes include the introduction and subsequent widespread use of insecticides and herbicides which can directly and indirectly reduce the abundance of insect food items for gamebird chicks (Rands, 1986; Potts, 1991; Campbell et aI., 1997). Further, the switch from spring to autumn sowing of cereals resulting in fewer over winter stubbles and the use of more mechanised machinery reduces the abundance of seeds and grains to adult gamebirds in winter (Campbell et aI., 1997) and spring (Draycott et aI., 1997). In this paper we will discuss how management of the pheasant population at Seefeld has enabled the estate to maintain a viable driven pheasant shoot within the constraints of a productive arable farming enterprise. We will also show how game management has allowed a range of non-game wildlife species to thrive as well.