**2. The case study example**

406 Modern Telemetry

is widespread in many areas of the Hunting Italian Districts (HTD) and in most of them is the only technique used for management. As summarized by Meriggi (1998), the use of

• prevent the formation of proper management and conservative mentality of the

• require large investments of money, which could be used for the improvement of the

• create high concentrations of individuals who may cause damage to the habitat, the predators attraction, consequent to the high concentration of pheasants can also affect

Regarding in particular the captive pheasants, several studies have shown that these animals have a poor attitude to settle in the wild (Cocchi et al., 1998). In particular, a study conducted in a protected area in the province of Florence, with radio collared pheasants (Papeschi & Petrini, 1993), showed that the captive pheasants had a significantly lower survival rates than the wild translocated (from another PA), especially during the first month after release, while the wild translocated showed surprising survivals of about 80%

In Italy the first attempt to reduce the problem related to the release of farm pheasants was done by the Regional Agency for Development and Innovation in Tuscany Agriculture (ARSIA). Together with leading experts in the field, the Agency produced a "Guideline for the breeding of galliformes fitted for restocking and reintroduction" (Dessi Fulgheri et al., 1998). This work analyzed the different breeding techniques showing that the quality of the animal produced is deeply influenced by the different choices and technologies adopted by the farmers. Almost simultaneously data on an experimental trial conducted in Province of Siena, on the farm of Casabianca were published by Santilli & Mazzoni Della Stella (1998). These data demonstrated the possibility to use pheasants captured inside the PA as reproducers in the farm, although with some objective difficulties. Behavioral tests (Santilli et al., 2004) were also made on the progeny of these animals. The different origin of the pheasants subjected to behavioral tests showed differences attributable to the different genetic origin of the animals. Both experimental groups were in fact kept in the same rearing conditions from hatch. It appeared that natural selection, which acted on wild pheasant reproducers, was able to select a population of pheasants characterized by a different behavior than the population obtained from captive pheasant reproducers in which acted the farm selection. Although the behavior is a character modulated by the experiences (influenced by training) and received with the imprinting, the offspring of the farm pheasants reacted differently from the offspring of the pheasants catch into the PA. Another interesting study (Bagliacca et al., 2007), in some ways preparatory to the use of the wild pheasants as reproducers in the farms, showed that there are genetic differences between pheasants from different wild origin (PA) and different breeding farms. This latest study brings to the indication to use wild pheasants reproducers captured from no far areas to those where the offspring will be released. The experience of Siena at the end of 90 years has been replicated and implemented, on an ongoing basis over time, from the farm of Casentino (Province of Arezzo), in collaboration with the Florence HTD (Fronte et al., 2005).

natural populations and epidemics outbreaks can involve the releasing places; • can cause the lost of the local populations which are genetically replaced by the captive

**1.5 The attempt to reduce the problems of restocking with captive pheasants** 

captive animals have a wide range of negative effects:

hunters;

environment;

reared animals.

even after 10 months from release.

Studies have repeatedly emphasized the limited survival of pheasants reared using traditional methods compared to the wild one, mainly in relation to the inefficient behavior versus the predators and the reduced capacity utilization of natural foods. These inefficient behavior do not happen in pheasants reared by parents who show the typical attitude of defense. The need for technical improvement of the animals, immediately after hatching

Radiotracking of Pheasants (*Phasianus colchicus* L.): To Test Captive Rearing Technologies 409

Both ZRV have a very similar assortment of environmental characteristics, natural vegetation, as well as trees and shrubs, mainly of the Mediterranean variety. The former zone is characterized by the presence of common broom (*Cytisus scoparius*), wild blackberry (*Rubus ulmifolius*), bay laurel (*Laurus nobilis*), heather (*Erica arborea*) and blackthorn (*Prunus spinosa*) growing at the edges of roads and fields. The latter zone consists of small stone pine forests (*Pinus pinea*), downy oak (*Quercus pubescens*), turkey oak (*Quercus cerris*), holm oak (*Quercus ilex*), wild cherry (*Prunus avium*) and black alder (*Alnus glutinosa*). Small farmers practicing "traditional" or organic agriculture are the only farms present in the ZRC, most of them characterized by small fields. The major crops are grapes (*Vitis vinifera*) and olives (*Olea europea*), while herbaceous plants are very often left uncultivated. Both ZRC are also characterized by natural boundaries separating the different plots of land. Rather than fences, there are borders of uncultivated land, farm roads, hedges, and trees, widely exploited by small game for shelter and feeding (Simonetta, 1975). Fruit trees including common fig (*Ficus carica*), wild cherry (*Prunus avium*), white and black mulberry (*Morus alba* and *Morus nigra*) and common hazel (*Corylus avellana*) are randomly widespread in the ZRC. There is no artificial irrigation equipment in the ZRC but there are abundant small rivers, streams and lakes. Each year; the HTD of Florence, which manage the public wildlife institutions on behalf of the Province of Florence; and the ZRV Management Committee, through cooperation landowners, seed the so-called "crops to be lost for game" (plots of noharvested food crops) on special strips of land. In the Spring, a mixture of sorghum (*Sorghum vulgare*), rapeseed (*Brassica napus*) and sunflower (*Helianthus annuus*) are sown. In the Fall, a combination of broad bean (*Vicia faba*), hard and common wheat (*Triticum durum* and *Triticum aestivum*) are sown. This makes the area more suitable to both sedentary and migrating wild birds. In these ZRC, the hunting guards and landowners of the HTD perform constant monitoring of the game population in addition to predator activity (censuses and, if necessary, capture and slaughter). In both ZRV there are fenced areas fitted for pheasants acclimatization and equipped with anti-cat device on the outside fence. The fenced area in ZRV "Leccio Poneta," has an area of 3 hectares, and in "Le Bartaline" has an area of 9 hectares. Within the fenced areas there are also two acclimatization aviaries where the pheasants can be placed before being released. In both the ZRV there are also artificial feeding points which are regularly inspected and refilled (mainly troughs) inside and

outside the fenced areas, 6 in "Leccio Poneta" and 3 in "Le Bartaline".

A total of 117 pheasants were evaluated for about 100 days, regarding their survival and behavior in nature: 57 of which were traditionally bred (29 males and 28 females) **Control**, and the remaining 60 were adopted and raised by hens (30 males and 30 females), **Hen**. Before being placed in the acclimatization aviaries in either ZRV, the following parameters

• **Live weight:** a technical balance (±1g) with a box, the weight of which was known, was

• **Tarsus length:** a Vernier caliper (0.2 mm error) was used to measure the length of the tarsus (the measurement was carried out externally, from the talocrural joint (ankle) to

• **Tarsus Diameters:** the measurement, always taken with the Vernier caliper, was taken at the midpoint of the right tarsometatarsus, noting the longitudinal diameter **minimum diameter** and the transverse diameter (just before the spur with males)

**2.1.3 Pheasants under study** 

were measured in the pheasants :

**maximum diameter**;

used for weighing each bird;

the distal trochlea of the tarsometatarsus.

(imprinting phase, during the so called warm phase), has been poorly evaluated, especially for the production of pheasants for the restocking of wild populations.

The purpose of this study was therefore to measure the effects related to the use of brooding hens after the hatch for the growing of pheasants, compared to the artificial rearing of the growing pheasants under gas heater after hatch (during the warm phase). The real effect of the proposed new technology must be consequently evaluated measuring the comparative survival rates in nature, as well as the habitat use and the characteristics of the home range of the pheasants after their release into the wild.

### **2.1 Materials and methods**

At the end of March 2008, 32 wild pheasants were transferred to the State Forestry Corps breeding division of Bieri (Province of Lucca) from various PA of the Florence HTD. To capture the pheasants, "falling baskets" (cages) were placed at random throughout the entire PA territories: the birds were attracted by grain nearby and below the baskets. When the birds went to peck at the feed, they triggered the release mechanism, making the basket fall. The captured pheasants, 7 males and 25 females, were used to produce eggs for artificial hatching.

#### **2.1.1 Experimental pheasant production**

The pheasant reproducers caught in the PA were placed in an aviary (5x8 x h 3 meters). It had an almost full outer wooden screen to disturb the birds as little as possible. Inside, there was a plastic net (h 1.5 meter) below the roof to protect the birds from injuring themselves in a potential attempt to escape through the roof. Wooden screens were also provided to guarantee pheasant to hide when workers entered to collect the laid eggs. In the first few days, 2 males and 1 female died for trauma, bringing the total number of birds down to 6 males and 24 females. The collected eggs were incubated in accordance with standard methods. Near to the aviary for the captured pheasants, another aviary was constructed for hens to be forced into brooding (Game Conservancy 1994). The pheasants chicks hatchd in the incubator were then forcedly adopted by the hens and raised for 60 days, 6-15 pheasants/hen.

#### **2.1.2 Release zones**

The experiment was conducted in two small PA where reared pheasants can be released ("Zone di Rispetto Venatorio" - ZRV) in the Province of Florence. The first, "Leccio Poneta" in Strada in Chianti, had an area of 176 hectares; the second, "Le Bartaline," in Panzano in Chianti, had an area of 184 hectares (Figure n. 2).

Fig. 1. Land uses in the ZRV "Le Bartaline" and "Leccio Poneta".

Both ZRV have a very similar assortment of environmental characteristics, natural vegetation, as well as trees and shrubs, mainly of the Mediterranean variety. The former zone is characterized by the presence of common broom (*Cytisus scoparius*), wild blackberry (*Rubus ulmifolius*), bay laurel (*Laurus nobilis*), heather (*Erica arborea*) and blackthorn (*Prunus spinosa*) growing at the edges of roads and fields. The latter zone consists of small stone pine forests (*Pinus pinea*), downy oak (*Quercus pubescens*), turkey oak (*Quercus cerris*), holm oak (*Quercus ilex*), wild cherry (*Prunus avium*) and black alder (*Alnus glutinosa*). Small farmers practicing "traditional" or organic agriculture are the only farms present in the ZRC, most of them characterized by small fields. The major crops are grapes (*Vitis vinifera*) and olives (*Olea europea*), while herbaceous plants are very often left uncultivated. Both ZRC are also characterized by natural boundaries separating the different plots of land. Rather than fences, there are borders of uncultivated land, farm roads, hedges, and trees, widely exploited by small game for shelter and feeding (Simonetta, 1975). Fruit trees including common fig (*Ficus carica*), wild cherry (*Prunus avium*), white and black mulberry (*Morus alba* and *Morus nigra*) and common hazel (*Corylus avellana*) are randomly widespread in the ZRC. There is no artificial irrigation equipment in the ZRC but there are abundant small rivers, streams and lakes. Each year; the HTD of Florence, which manage the public wildlife institutions on behalf of the Province of Florence; and the ZRV Management Committee, through cooperation landowners, seed the so-called "crops to be lost for game" (plots of noharvested food crops) on special strips of land. In the Spring, a mixture of sorghum (*Sorghum vulgare*), rapeseed (*Brassica napus*) and sunflower (*Helianthus annuus*) are sown. In the Fall, a combination of broad bean (*Vicia faba*), hard and common wheat (*Triticum durum* and *Triticum aestivum*) are sown. This makes the area more suitable to both sedentary and migrating wild birds. In these ZRC, the hunting guards and landowners of the HTD perform constant monitoring of the game population in addition to predator activity (censuses and, if necessary, capture and slaughter). In both ZRV there are fenced areas fitted for pheasants acclimatization and equipped with anti-cat device on the outside fence. The fenced area in ZRV "Leccio Poneta," has an area of 3 hectares, and in "Le Bartaline" has an area of 9 hectares. Within the fenced areas there are also two acclimatization aviaries where the pheasants can be placed before being released. In both the ZRV there are also artificial feeding points which are regularly inspected and refilled (mainly troughs) inside and outside the fenced areas, 6 in "Leccio Poneta" and 3 in "Le Bartaline".
