Conservation status and hunting management of red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa in the Eastern Province of Genoa (Liguria Region, NW Italy)

Abstract

Spring song census with playback technique in the years among 2006 and 2011 in two Provincial Conservation Areas (P.C.A.) and the monitoring of the hunting bags carried out during the seasons 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 gave the chance to evaluate the status of the populations of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) in the territory at East of Genoa. In the two P.C.A. the densities of potential nesting pairs present average-low values, with a trend toward a worrying decline. Furthermore the monitoring of the bag put in evidence physical precarious condition of the wild specimens (low weight). The examination of data of shot partridges showed also the low performance of summer restocking with young individuals as regards the strengthening of natural stocks. Taking account of the collected data, it is sketched out that the conservation status of the natural populations of red-legged partridge in the study area is not satisfactory. This might be due to the falling of the environmental vocation for the species which characterised the evolution of territory in the last years. Furthermore, this indicates a low capacity of consolidation and restoration of natural stocks by introduced individuals.