The Native Partridges of Turkey

Home , Ammoperdix, Caspian snowcock, Chukar partridge, Partridge, Rock partridge

ALPER YILMAZ * and CAFER TEPELI Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selcuk, 42031, Selçuklu, Konya, Turkey. *Correspondence author - [email protected]

Paper presented at the 4 th International Galliformes Symposium, 2007, Chengdu, China.

Abstract Turkey provides a wide range of natural habitat for numerous bird species. Partridges constitute an important part of the native birds of Turkey. There are five native partridge species in Turkey, which are chukar partridge, rock partridge, grey partridge, see-see partridge and Caspian snowcock. In recent years, intensive rearing and releasing of gamebirds has become popular in Turkey and rock partridges are an important component to this activity. Breeding units for the species are widespread in many parts of the country. There are also some breeding units for rock partridges that are supported by the National Ministry of the Forest. The units produce and release partridges to bolster the wild population, but also to provide birds for hunting and tourism. In this paper the geographical distribution, characteristics and contemporary state of the native partridges of Turkey is presented.

Keywords Distribution, partridges, status, Turkey.

Introduction Urfa (south east of Turkey) is thought to be over 2500 years old (FIG . 1) (T.C. Şanlı Urfa Turkey occupies a unique geographical location, Valiliği İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü, 2007). connecting Europe and Asia, and is a country with a rich and varied historical past. The country’s rich history, geography and nature are entwined and are a part of everyday life.

The total number of bird species within Turkey is equal to the number within the whole of Europe due in part to the Anatolian region’s diversity of habitats, including lakes, swamps, mountains, woodlands, and its location on major bird immigration routes (Anonymous, 1986; Boyla, 1995; Somçağ, 2005).

The partridges are a particularly important group of birds within Turkish culture. They have been the subject of traditional folk songs and dances, epic stories, poetry, rug motifs and Turkish sayings. The Turkish name for FIG . 1 Partridge mosaic (probably featuring a partridges, Keklik, features in the name of chukar partridge) (312 to 132 B.C.) in Şanlı many villages, for example Keklikdüzü, Urfa Archaic Edessa City (Seleukos dynasty). Keklikpınarı, Keklikdere and Keklikkayası located in different regions throughout Turkey. Partridge species in Turkey The hunting of partridges has always been popular in Turkish Culture and for the Sultans There are five native partridge species in of the Ottoman Empire the eating of partridges Turkey, namely chukar partridge Alectoris was a favoured meal (Bozyiğit, 1995). chukar , rock partridge Alectoris graeca , grey partridge Perdix perdix , see-see partridge Partridges have a very old and long history in Ammoperdix griseogularis and Caspian Turkey and there are many archeological snowcock Tetragallus caspius (FIG . 2). records featuring partridges. For example a new partridge mosaic found in 2007, in Şanlı

10 A. Yalmaz and C. Tepeli

FIG . 2 Geographical distribution of partridge species in Turkey

Chukar partridge Alectoris chukar and further investigations are required to fill In Turkey, the chukar partridge is known to this knowledge gap. most people because it features in the country’s culture and history and is regularly hunted. The Intensive breeding of chukar partridges is not species is reared in many villages and released widespread in Turkey because the species does for hunting. Decoy birds are also reared and not domesticate very well. kept to be used in the hunting of wild partridges (Çetin & Kırıkçı, 2000). The decoy Rock partridge Alectoris graeca birds, usually a male that produces a long and The species is found in the mountains and rocky loud call, is placed in a wooden cage to attract areas of western Anatolia, including the Aegean other partridges. The chukar partridge is known and Thrace coast (FIG . 2). In recent years, locally as "kınalı" or "güzel keklik" in Turkish, intensive rearing and releasing of rock which is a direct reference to the red colour of partridges has become popular in Turkey. beak and legs (Erençin, 1977). Captive breeding facilities for this species are widespread in many parts of the country. Chukar partridge are found throughout the Some semi-intensive breeding units have been entire Anatolia region (FIG . 2), where they established in the province of Kahramanmaraş, inhabit the more arid slopes and valleys and releasing an estimated 58,409 partridges feed mainly on seeds, grasses, weeds, and to a between 2000 and 2006, to bolster the lesser extent, insects (Woodard et al ., 1993; abundance of birds in the wild. Today, legal Robbins, 1998; Çetin & Kırıkçı, 2000). It is permission from the National Ministry of the frequently encountered in small flocks of Forest is required to rear rock partridges in between 30 and 50 individuals, but sometimes order to regulate the activity in an attempt to up to 100 partridges. In winter, chukar preserve partridge species in the wild (Doğa partridges move down to lower valleys, Koruma ve Milli Parklar Genel Müdürlüğü, returning to the mountains in spring. This 2007). The impact of intensive releasing on the species is declining in parts of its range due to wild population of rock partridges and the habitat loss and over-hunting (Turan, 1990). survival of the released birds is unknown, and The information presented in FIG . 2 was derived needs to be investigated. from publications and a bird observers’ web page (Turan, 1990; Boyla, 1995; Somçağ, Grey partridge Perdix perdix 2005; Anonymous, 2007). Unfortunately, there Grey partridges are found in the wild between are not enough detailed data about the the central area of Anatolia and Thrace (FIG . 2). population size and trend of chukar partridges Their numbers are very limited and the species

Partridges in Turkey 11 is becoming very rare. There are a few hobby breeders who are mostly bird collectors, and these breeders are trying to breed the birds References captured from wild habitat in intensive ANONYMOUS (1986) Milli Parklar Av ve Yaban conditions (Anonymous, 2007; Anonymous, Hayatı Genel Müdürlüğü Dökümanları, 2008). Türkiye’de Av ve Yaban Hayatı, Gelişim matbaası, Ankara. See-see partridge Ammoperdix ANONYMOUS (2007) TRAKUS (Anonymous Birds griseogularis of Turkey) The see-see partridge is only reared as a hobby (http://www.trakus.org/kods_bird/uye/?fsx= in Turkey. Wild birds are only found in edge of @). the Fırat and Dicle rivers in south eastern part ANONYMOUS (2008) http://www.parkhayvancilik. of Anatolia (FIG . 2). It is the smallest partridge com/ species in Turkey. See-see partridge spread BOYLA , K.A. (1995) Türkiye ve Avrupa'nın from the south east to middle regions of Turkey Kuşları, Türkiye Doğal Hayatı Koruma because of construction of dams and changes in Derneği, Büyük Postane Caddesi No: 43-45, climatic zone. This species is very territorial. Kat 5-6 Bahçekapı İstanbul, Baskı: Rotolito Lombarda, İtalya. Caspian snowcock Tetragallus caspius BOZYIĞIT , A.E. (1995) Halk Kültürümüzde Keklik The Caspian snowcock is the biggest partridge Motifi Ve Çukurova’dan Örnekler, Bizde Adet species in Anatolia. It is found in the mountains Böyledir Ürün Yayınları, Ankara , 15-29. of Bolkar, Demirkazik in the Taurus Mountains, ÇETIN , O. & KIRIKÇI , K. (2000) Alternatif Kanatlı Sivri Kaya in the Pontic Alps, Mescit Mountains Yetiştiriciliği, Sülün-Keklik, Konya. in the Erzurum city and eastern parts of Turkey DOĞA KORUMA VE MILLI PARKLAR GENEL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ (FIG . 2). Caspian snowcock breed at altitudes (2007) http://www.milliparklar.gov.tr/ from 1800-3000 m on bare stony ground with ERENÇIN , Z. (1977) Av Hayvanları ve Av, Ankara some alpine scrub. Some Turkish tribes used to Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Yayınları No: catch this species and use them as “look-outs” 338, Ders Kitabı , 238. to guard their camps. It is assumed that the ROBBINS , G. (1998) Partridges & francolins, their largest population of this species occurs in conservation, breeding and management. Turkey. World Pheasant Association, Reading, United Kingdom. Contemporary state of partridges in SOMÇAĞ , S. (2005) Türkiye Kuşları, Yapı Kredi Turkey Yayınları, İstanbul. Intensive hunting and agricultural T.C. ŞANLIURFA VALILIĞI İL KÜLTÜR VE TURIZM intensification (use of pesticides and the MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ (2007) web page planting of monocultures) have resulted in http://www.urfakultur.gov.tr/mozaik.htm. habitat destruction or alteration for all bird TURAN , N. (1990) Türkiye’nin Av ve Yaban species of the steppe areas. Therefore, the Hayvanları: Kuşlar, Orman Gen. Müd. Eğitim numbers of partridges of all species have Dairesi Başkanlığı Yayınları, Ankara. greatly decreased over the last 20 years. WOODARD , A.E., VOHRA , P. & DENTON , V. (1993) However, some attempts to address this are Commercial and ornamental game bird being made in Turkey by organisations, such as breeders handbook. Hancock House private breeding units, universities and the Publishers, Blaine, WA 98231, USA National Ministry of the Forest. The National Biographical sketches Ministry of the Forest is undertaking surveys to determine population sizes of all bird species ALPER YILMAZ is a graduate of the Veterinary and is constructing research and migration Faculty of Uludağ University. His PhD studied watch stations. It is also establishing partridges in Turkey in 2004 and he now Conservation Regions in various parts of focuses on partridge and quail that occur in Turkey. International projects are being Turkey. CAFER TEPELI PhD studies the native dog undertaken to preserve and develop native bird breeds of Turkey. He also has a research species in Turkey in their natural habitat. Strict interest in partridge and pheasant breeding and regulations and penalties for hunting have been gives priority to preserving and developing implemented by the Turkish Government. native species in their natural habitat. Important habitats have been constituted as protected areas by the Ministries of the Forest and Environment.