© 2009 World Pheasant Association. International Journal of Galliformes Conservation, 1, 9-11

The native partridges of Turkey

ALPER YILMAZ* and CAFER TEPELI Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selcuk, 42031, Selçuklu, Konya, Turkey. *Correspondence author - ayilmaz@selcuk.edu.tr Paper presented at the 4th 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 Turkey occupies a unique geographical location, 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 partridges, Keklik, features in the name of many villages, for example Keklikdüzü, Keklikpınarı, Keklikdere and Keklikkayası located in different regions throughout Turkey. The hunting of partridges has always been popular in Turkish Culture and for the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire the eating of partridges was a favoured meal (Bozyiğit, 1995). Partridges have a very old and long history in Turkey and there are many archeological records featuring partridges. For example a new partridge mosaic found in 2007, in Şanlı

Urfa (south east of Turkey) is thought to be over 2500 years old (FIG. 1) (T.C. Şanlı Urfa Valiliği İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü, 2007).

FIG. 1 Partridge mosaic (probably featuring a chukar partridge) (312 to 132 B.C.) in Şanlı Urfa Archaic Edessa City (Seleukos dynasty).

Partridge species in Turkey There are five native partridge species in Turkey, namely chukar partridge Alectoris

chukar, rock partridge Alectoris graeca, grey partridge Perdix perdix, see-see partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis and Caspian snowcock Tetragallus caspius (FIG. 2).

10 A. Yalmaz and C. Tepeli

© 2009 World Pheasant Association. International Journal of Galliformes Conservation, 1, 9–11

FIG. 2 Geographical distribution of partridge species in Turkey Chukar partridge Alectoris chukar

In Turkey, the chukar partridge is known to most people because it features in the country’s culture and history and is regularly hunted. The species is reared in many villages and released for hunting. Decoy birds are also reared and kept to be used in the hunting of wild partridges (Çetin & Kırıkçı, 2000). The decoy birds, usually a male that produces a long and loud call, is placed in a wooden cage to attract other partridges. The chukar partridge is known locally as "kınalı" or "güzel keklik" in Turkish, which is a direct reference to the red colour of beak and legs (Erençin, 1977). Chukar partridge are found throughout the entire Anatolia region (FIG. 2), where they inhabit the more arid slopes and valleys and feed mainly on seeds, grasses, weeds, and to a lesser extent, insects (Woodard et al., 1993; Robbins, 1998; Çetin & Kırıkçı, 2000). It is frequently encountered in small flocks of between 30 and 50 individuals, but sometimes up to 100 partridges. In winter, chukar partridges move down to lower valleys, returning to the mountains in spring. This species is declining in parts of its range due to habitat loss and over-hunting (Turan, 1990). The information presented in FIG. 2 was derived from publications and a bird observers’ web page (Turan, 1990; Boyla, 1995; Somçağ, 2005; Anonymous, 2007). Unfortunately, there are not enough detailed data about the population size and trend of chukar partridges

and further investigations are required to fill this knowledge gap. Intensive breeding of chukar partridges is not widespread in Turkey because the species does not domesticate very well. Rock partridge Alectoris graeca

The species is found in the mountains and rocky areas of western Anatolia, including the Aegean and Thrace coast (FIG. 2). In recent years, intensive rearing and releasing of rock partridges has become popular in Turkey. Captive breeding facilities for this species are widespread in many parts of the country. Some semi-intensive breeding units have been established in the province of Kahramanmaraş, releasing an estimated 58,409 partridges between 2000 and 2006, to bolster the abundance of birds in the wild. Today, legal permission from the National Ministry of the Forest is required to rear rock partridges in order to regulate the activity in an attempt to preserve partridge species in the wild (Doğa Koruma ve Milli Parklar Genel Müdürlüğü, 2007). The impact of intensive releasing on the wild population of rock partridges and the survival of the released birds is unknown, and needs to be investigated.

Grey partridge Perdix perdix

Grey partridges are found in the wild between the central area of Anatolia and Thrace (FIG. 2). Their numbers are very limited and the species

Partridges in Turkey 11

© 2009 World Pheasant Association. International Journal of Galliformes Conservation, 1, 9–11

is becoming very rare. There are a few hobby breeders who are mostly bird collectors, and these breeders are trying to breed the birds captured from wild habitat in intensive conditions (Anonymous, 2007; Anonymous, 2008).

See-see partridge Ammoperdix

griseogularis

The see-see partridge is only reared as a hobby in Turkey. Wild birds are only found in edge of the Fırat and Dicle rivers in south eastern part of Anatolia (FIG. 2). It is the smallest partridge species in Turkey. See-see partridge spread from the south east to middle regions of Turkey because of construction of dams and changes in climatic zone. This species is very territorial.

Caspian snowcock Tetragallus caspius

The Caspian snowcock is the biggest partridge species in Anatolia. It is found in the mountains of Bolkar, Demirkazik in the Taurus Mountains, Sivri Kaya in the Pontic Alps, Mescit Mountains in the Erzurum city and eastern parts of Turkey (FIG. 2). Caspian snowcock breed at altitudes from 1800-3000 m on bare stony ground with some alpine scrub. Some Turkish tribes used to catch this species and use them as “look-outs” to guard their camps. It is assumed that the largest population of this species occurs in Turkey.

Contemporary state of partridges in

Turkey

Intensive hunting and agricultural intensification (use of pesticides and the planting of monocultures) have resulted in habitat destruction or alteration for all bird species of the steppe areas. Therefore, the numbers of partridges of all species have greatly decreased over the last 20 years. However, some attempts to address this are being made in Turkey by organisations, such as private breeding units, universities and the National Ministry of the Forest. The National Ministry of the Forest is undertaking surveys to determine population sizes of all bird species and is constructing research and migration watch stations. It is also establishing Conservation Regions in various parts of Turkey. International projects are being undertaken to preserve and develop native bird species in Turkey in their natural habitat. Strict regulations and penalties for hunting have been implemented by the Turkish Government. Important habitats have been constituted as protected areas by the Ministries of the Forest and Environment.

References ANONYMOUS (1986) Milli Parklar Av ve Yaban

Hayatı Genel Müdürlüğü Dökümanları, Türkiye’de Av ve Yaban Hayatı, Gelişim matbaası, Ankara.

ANONYMOUS (2007) TRAKUS (Anonymous Birds of Turkey) (http://www.trakus.org/kods_bird/uye/?fsx=@).

ANONYMOUS (2008) http://www.parkhayvancilik. com/

BOYLA, K.A. (1995) Türkiye ve Avrupa'nın Kuşları, Türkiye Doğal Hayatı Koruma Derneği, Büyük Postane Caddesi No: 43-45, Kat 5-6 Bahçekapı İstanbul, Baskı: Rotolito Lombarda, İtalya.

BOZYIĞIT, A.E. (1995) Halk Kültürümüzde Keklik Motifi Ve Çukurova’dan Örnekler, Bizde Adet Böyledir Ürün Yayınları, Ankara, 15-29.

ÇETIN, O. & KIRIKÇI, K. (2000) Alternatif Kanatlı Yetiştiriciliği, Sülün-Keklik, Konya.

DOĞA KORUMA VE MILLI PARKLAR GENEL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ (2007) http://www.milliparklar.gov.tr/

ERENÇIN, Z. (1977) Av Hayvanları ve Av, Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Yayınları No: 338, Ders Kitabı, 238.

ROBBINS, G. (1998) Partridges & francolins, their conservation, breeding and management. World Pheasant Association, Reading, United Kingdom.

SOMÇAĞ, S. (2005) Türkiye Kuşları, Yapı Kredi Yayınları, İstanbul.

T.C. ŞANLIURFA VALILIĞI İL KÜLTÜR VE TURIZM MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ (2007) web page http://www.urfakultur.gov.tr/mozaik.htm.

TURAN, N. (1990) Türkiye’nin Av ve Yaban Hayvanları: Kuşlar, Orman Gen. Müd. Eğitim Dairesi Başkanlığı Yayınları, Ankara.

WOODARD, A.E., VOHRA, P. & DENTON, V. (1993) Commercial and ornamental game bird

breeders handbook. Hancock House Publishers, Blaine, WA 98231, USA

Biographical sketches

ALPER YILMAZ is a graduate of the Veterinary Faculty of Uludağ University. His PhD studied partridges in Turkey in 2004 and he now focuses on partridge and quail that occur in Turkey. CAFER TEPELI PhD studies the native dog breeds of Turkey. He also has a research interest in partridge and pheasant breeding and gives priority to preserving and developing native species in their natural habitat.