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Marek Balcerak, Robert Glogowski, Bartlomiej Popczyk®
Warsaw Agricultural University
CHANGES IN THE HARVEST OF THE PHEASANT (PHASIANUS COLCHICUS L.) IN POLAND IN THE YEARS 1999-2009
Abstract
The analysis aimed at determining of changes of the population of pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.) in years 1999-2009. Statistical data demonstrate increase in the annual hunting bag of pheasant from 64,100 to 93,600. The greatest concentration of the population and the positive outcome of pheasant management was in hunting districts with favorable habitat conditions, where fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) was intensively reduced. The lowest number of pheasant was assessed in hunting districts of northeastern Poland. In the majority of districts the reintroduction is the key factor for sustained hunting.
Key words: hunting management, pheasant, hunting statistics
Introduction
Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L.) is one of the most abundant game animals present in farmland landscape. It should be emphasized that it is not native species in Poland, and its successful introduction in 1975/1976 allowed for the harvest of over 200,000 birds (Kamieniarz & Panek, 2008).
The feasible adaptation for environment gives possibilities for the reconstruction of the population of pheasant on the basis of appropriate reintroduction programme. Moreover, this is the reason that pheasant may soon become the most often hunted species of all game animals in Poland (Manelski, 1999).
The second world war warfare led to total decline of the population of pheasant. Reintroductions, led in 1950s by the Ministry of Forestry and Polish Hunting Association restored the density of the species (Czyzowski, 1999).
Wild population of pheasants is substantially supplied by introducing the birds reared on specialized farms. Complete adaptation in natural environment conditions is not an easy process, so the mortality of the introduced animals is an important issue. Pheasant is an environment-sensitive species. The effectiveness of the introduction depends on the quality of the habitat, suitable also for the breeding purposes. It is an indicative species for negative changes in the farmland production space, which remain the essential threat for the pheasant population density. Agricultural density, habitat degradation, growing consumption of chemical fertilizers and pesticides significantly decrease the number of birds (Bresinski et al., 2003).
At present, the total harvest of pheasant in Poland is 94,000 (hunting year 2008/2009). However it should be noted that in some hunting districts there is no living population of pheasant (Budny et al., 2010). The decline in population is often
® Marek Balcerak, Robert Glogowski, Bartlomiej Popczyk, 2010
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related to uncontrolled harvest, resulting in sex proportions and the predation pressure (mostly of significantly increased population of fox).
Task
The aim of the study was to show the changes of the relation between hunting harvest and reintroduction of pheasant in Poland in years 1999-2009. Results present the regional diversification of pheasant population management on the basis of hunting districts statistics (49 districts).
Materials and methods
The data for the analysis were taken from the hunting statistics of the Polish Hunting Association database in years 1999-2009. The harvest is being calculated according to the hunting year, from April 1st to March 31st next year. The hunting statistics were calculated on the basis of annual hunting bags. The quantitative data were excluded from the analysis due to the fact, that the population density was estimated only approximately. The analysis based on actual harvest data, allowed the assignment of the regional structure of the pheasant population in Poland, in the studied period. The harvest/introduction ratio (H/I) was also evaluated.
Results of researches
Table 1
Harvest and introduction of pheasant in Poland, in years 1999-2008.
Hunting year Harvest Introduction H/I
1999/2000 64,100 60,400 1,06
2000/2001 62,000 62,000 1,00
2001/2002 63,300 67,000 0,94
2002/2003 79,300 83,400 0,95
2003/2004 67,600 86,400 0,78
2004/2005 71,700 99,400 0,72
2005/2006 67,900 98,800 0,69
2006/2007 63,000 92,400 0,68
2007/2008 80,700 101,100 0,80
2008/2009 93,600 96,500 0,97
Source: Po ish Hunting Association
As one of the most popular game species, pheasant with the size of the harvest 93,600 is almost as commonly hunted in Poland as duck (Anas platynrhynchos L.) with the harvest size 108,000 in hunting year 2008/2009.
The hunting bag of pheasant since the end of 1990s was variable with the growing number of reintroduced birds. Since 1999 the introduction of the pheasant increased from 60,400 to over 100,000 in hunting year 2007/2008 (Table 1). It should be noted that in some regions introductions were the only option for continuous hunt of pheasants. Since the year 2000, the number of introduced birds exceeds the hunting
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bag. There is a negative outcome of the hunting management, that forces the introduction of the farmed pheasants.
Additionally, the negative trend is strengthened by the predator pressure of fox population, the species excellently adapting to farmland modifications in Poland. The exceptional, whole year pressure of growing fox population was supported by the national anti-rabies campaign, successfully commenced in 2002. The number of rabies in Poland decreased from 3,084 in 1992 to 138 in 2005 (Smerczak, 2007). But the natural regulatory mechanism of fox population was eliminated.
Table 2
Harvest and introduction of pheasant in the hunting year 2008/2009.
District Harvest Introduction H/I District Harvest Introduction H/I
Krosnienski 529 50 10,58 Elbl^ski 309 514 0,60
Krakowski 7981 1499 5,32 Zielonogórski 2312 3936 0,59
Bielski 7464 1917 3,89 Ciechanowski 1097 1975 0,56
Tarnowski 6804 2065 3,29 Koszalinski 557 1015 0,55
Sieradzki 2873 1115 2,58 Koninski 1592 2906 0,55
Gdanski 141 55 2,56 Opolski 1648 3305 0,50
Kielecki 5806 2492 2,33 Warszawski 2016 4067 0,50
Katowicki 7671 3810 2,01 Zamojski 804 1707 0,47
Skierniewicki 1881 1083 1,74 Wloclawski 2082 4429 0,47
Czçstochowski 2212 1295 1,71 Lomzynski 327 780 0,42
Tarnobrzeski 3706 2179 1,70 Legnicki 347 830 0,42
Rzeszowski 3242 2140 1,51 Torunski 2000 4795 0,42
Lódzki 1650 1214 1,36 Bydgoski 1323 3656 0,36
Plocki 2822 2206 1,28 Przemyski 411 1149 0,36
Radomski 2037 1695 1,20 Olsztynski 168 564 0,30
Lubelski 3565 3489 1,02 Ostrolçcki 398 1364 0,29
Piotrkowski 1197 1242 0,96 Walbrzyski 365 1268 0,29
Gorzowski 2086 2603 0,80 Bielskopodlaski 432 1525 0,28
Chelmski 1168 1460 0,80 Poznanski 1166 4366 0,27
Kaliski 2665 3469 0,77 Leszczynski 477 1898 0,25
Wroclawski 1988 2663 0,75 Szczecinski 1031 4270 0,24
Nowos^decki 549 764 0,72 Jeleniogórski 90 435 0,21
Siedlecki 930 1374 0,68 Bialostocki 89 595 0,15
Pilski 1158 1747 0,66 Suwalski 36 853 0,04
Slupski 448 690 0,65 Total 93650 96518 0,97
* stan ilosciowy na dzien 31 marca, pocz^tek hodowlanego roku lowieckiego Source: Polish Hunting Association
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Fox, with its annual hunting bag approximately 139,000 became common, dangerous predator. The hunting intensity of fox remains constantly low (approx. 71%).
The positive outcome of the hunting management in pheasant was noted in districts: krosnieñski, krakowski and bielski (Table 2). The average national H/I ratio in the hunting year 2008/2009 was only 0,97. The positive balance of pheasant management was noted merely in 33% of districts. The poorest H/I results were calculated for districts bialostocki and suwalski (0,15 and 0,04 respectively).
The structure presented in Table 2, is an outcome of differentiation of environment conditions. Pielowski et al. (1993) showed the regional pattern of favored habitats for pheasant, based on the population density in 1970s and 1980s. The present structure of harvest is in accordance with that from the beginning of 1990s (Table 2). The highest harvest of pheasant is typical for the southern regions of Poland. In districts: krakowski, katowicki, bielski, tarnowski and kielecki the annual harvest was from 5,806 to 7,981 with the positive management of the species maintained.
The lack of particular environmental conditions (rushes at water pond banks, poor condition of drainage ditches, uncultivated lands) decrease the local population size of pheasants, so the only available for harvest birds have to be released/introduced.
The least favored region for pheasant management in north-eastern Poland. Budny et al. (2010) point at the lowest harvest of fox in suwalski and bialostocki districts.
Conclusions
1. Since 1999 the harvest of pheasant increased from 64,100 to 93,600. This high increase was due to high annual release/introduction (over 100,000).
2. The density of pheasant population is endangered by environmental factors and the pressure of predators, especially growing population of fox.
3. The highest density of pheasant and the positive balance of the hunting management occurs in districts with significant harvest of fox and favored environmental conditions: krakowski, katowicki, bielski, tarnowski and kielecki. In the majority of districts the release/introduction of farmed pheasants is absolutely essential for continuous hunting.
4. The positive balance of hunting management of pheasant have merely 33% of districts in Poland. In the krosnieñski district for 1 released bird, 10,58 were shot. The most abundant hunting regions are in krakowski district (H/I above 5), due to low annual harvest (approx. 500). The poorest results were assessed for north-eastern Poland (H/I ratio for suwalski district was 0,04).
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References:
1. Bresiñski W., Kamieniarz R., Panek M., 2003. Poradnik zagospodarowania lowisk polnych i gospodarowania podstawowymi gatunkami zwierzyny drobnej. ZGPZL Warszawa.
2. Budny M., Kamieniarz R., Kolanos B., M^ka H., Panek M., 2010. Sytuacja zwierz^t lownych w Polsce w latach 2008-2009 Biuletyn Stacji Badawczej w Czempiniu, Vol. 6.
3. Czyzowski P., 1999. Lowieckie gospodarowanie bazantami w województwie Lubelskim. Zwierzyna drobna jako elementy bioróznorodnosci srodowiska przyrodniczego.
4. Kamieniarz R., Panek M., 2008. Zwierzçta Lowne w Polsce na przelomie XX i XXI w Czempin.
5. Manelski B., 1999. Propozycje gospodarowania populaj bazanta. Zwierzyna drobna jako elementy bioróznorodnosci srodowiska przyrodniczego. Wloclawek.
6. Piecowski Z., Kamieniarz R., Panek M., 1993. Raport o zwierzçtach lownych w Polsce. Biblioteka Monitoringu Srodowiska.
7. Smerczak M., 2007. Efekty doustnego uodparniania lisów przeciwko wsciekliznie. Kryzys zwierzyny drobnej i sposoby przeciwdzialania. Samorz^d Województwa Mazowieckiego.
Summary
The paper presents changes in the harvest of pheasant in Poland between 1999 and 2009. The analysis of hunting statistics showed the increase in annual number of hunted birds from 64,100 do 93,600. The density ofpheasant population is affected by the environment conditions, predation and release/introduction programme. The greatest concentration of pheasants with the positive balance in species management was in regions with the highest harvest of fox in the favorable environment conditions. The best districts are: krakowski, katowicki, bielski, tarnowski and kielecki. The worst situation appears to be in hunting districts of north-eastern Poland.
Cmammx nadiümna do peda^ii 22.03.2010
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