Survival rate question

[Flairball 141]

Hypothetical question. As a means of reintroduction and/or population supplementation what percentage of pheasant would you expect to survive, and go on to breed in the wild, if released using the standard model of releasing poults via a release pen? In considering your answer/expectations let’s assume this is an appropriately sized release pen, with appropriate cover, regular feeding, regular pest control, and not shot at. 

 

Thanks

[bird 9,587]

13 hours ago, Flairball said:

Hypothetical question. As a means of reintroduction and/or population supplementation what percentage of pheasant would you expect to survive, and go on to breed in the wild, if released using the standard model of releasing poults via a release pen? In considering your answer/expectations let’s assume this is an appropriately sized release pen, with appropriate cover, regular feeding, regular pest control, and not shot at. 

 

Thanks

is that Boston  USA /    if so it would depend on what predators you got over there that would , have  young birds   top of the food chain , and not shooting  vermin , just relying  on traps and snares , wont be as good and quick  as a gun  deff , and what weather do you have there hot cold wet etc , things that might kill young poults. over here   were have foxes, badgers , that will kill  young poults, but unfortunately  badgers  can only be  shot in certain  areas , but foxes can be controlled  any area . But there bound to be few gamekeepers  on here who know more than me, who just old lurcher bloke lol .     

[shovel leaner 7,648]

There are so many factors involved here that it is almost impossible to answer with any degree of accuracy. But the answer is a small percentage. Firstly a lot will depend on the stock . If they have been hatched in an incubator and reared in a shed then they have not been imprinted with the mothering skills of one that was reared in the wild or under a broody hen ( something that only happens in the UK on a small scale . So they tend to make poor mothers , partridge even worse . Then the weather plays a huge part , they can’t take a lot of cold and wet . Then it’s availability of good protein . Then predation . Just about everything with a hooked beak or fangs will see them as a meal . Good luck

[fireman 10,774]

But the first question you have to ask is,is the habitat right for wild bird rearing?..If not don't even bother trying as they will just go to where it is,if it is then pest control is your biggest job and that is 24/7 365 days a year with no let off on the vermin,but habitat habitat habitat is prime number one objective first...

[shovel leaner 7,648]

Ground nesting birds are very vulnerable to predators . Something that the RSPB has always tried to brush under the carpet . The decline in Lapwings and their poor survival on RSPB reserves will tell you that . Anyone remember the picture of the Phalarope chick ? The RSPB has woken up to the fact that controlling foxes is beneficial but it is done on the quiet so as not to upset it’s members delicate sensibilities . But it cannot admit the damage that an out of control raptor population is doing .

Edited March 22, 2018 by shovel leaner
Miss quote

[wilbur foxhound 480]

On 22/03/2018 at 08:30, shovel leaner said:

Ground nesting birds are very vulnerable to predators . Something that the RSPB has always tried to brush under the carpet . The decline in Lapwings and their poor survival on RSPB reserves will tell you that . Anyone remember the picture of the Phalarope chick ? The RSPB has woken up to the fact that controlling foxes is beneficial but it is done on the quiet so as not to upset it’s members delicate sensibilities . But it cannot admit the damage that an out of control raptor population is doing .

I totally agree with you,vane farm rspb on loch leven done a lapwing ,oyster catcher and curlew reintroduction scheme,they blamed it on hoody and carrion crows,so there idea was to cut down all the large trees so they couldn’t nest in them,I was asked what I thought about the idea and told them crows will nest in bushes and what about the foxes,pine martens,badgers,weasels,stoats and otters that are about the place ,according to them they don’t eat eggs,anyway they cut the trees down and it was an instant success they had seven nesting pairs of lapwings over ten years,years ago the place was vermin controlled,but not anymore,wf