This study aimed to evaluate the postrelease survival and spatial distribution of farm-bred red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) that were subject to a prerelease training program based on exemplary behavior and alarm calls given by adults that acted as experienced demonstrators in simulated predator encounters (wooden raptor models and humans). Two groups of partridges were released in this study: trained (intensively reared birds accompanied by tutors) and control (chicks reared without tutors). Releases were conducted in the fall and winter-spring during 2 consecutive years using a total of 44 trained and 40 control radio-tagged partridges. Trained partridges showed statistically higher mean values of survival (72.7 d), home range (13.04 ha), and dispersion (549.58 m) compared with nontrained partridges, with most nontrained birds failing to survive more than 2 wk after release. Trained adult partridges showed the best survival results (105.2 d). Taking all birds into account, causes of death were attributed to terrestrial predators (45%), raptors (18.7%), hunting (11.3%), and unknown causes (25%). Although values of variables reported here were lower than those reported in wild counterparts, survival time and spatial behavior of trained birds were close to that of previous data of parent-reared partridges and higher than that of farm-bred birds. This study aimed to confirm the potential of prerelease training techniques in present-day rearing systems. Farm-bred game birds, which normally suffer from high predation rates after release, could highly benefit from the use of cost-effective training techniques based on learning from experienced adults.

A discussion about the nutritional composition of game meat, with specific focus on wild species harvested in Central and Mediterranean European countries has been conducted. Given the wide range of species, and the climate and vegetation differences among the harvesting areas, game meat shows heterogeneous characteristics and chemical composition, the latter being also affected by sex, age, body condition, physiological and sexual status, and hunting period. However, there are similarities which make it clearly distinguishable from livestock meat. When considering the most consumed species (red and fallow deer, wild boar, hare and wild rabbit), their meat has low fat content (<3 g/100 g for large and <4 g/100 g for small wild game species), high protein content (20–26 g/100 g) and low energy content (90–113 kcal/100 g). Wild game meat has a healthier fatty-acids profile compared to other meats, showing a higher proportion of PUFA, especially n-3, and consequently more favorable PUFA/SAF ratio. Wild ruminants’ meat shows a favorable n-6/n-3 ratio (lower or close to 4). It has a high content of K, followed by P and micro-minerals such as Zn and Fe, together with B-group vitamins and vitamin E. Game meat from wild species harvested in Europe can diversify the market being an alternative to others red meats owing to its nutritional quality and organoleptic characteristics.

Providing supplementary winter food for gamebirds through feeders is an important management tool for many game managers, but there has been no systematic study of how much of the food is consumed by gamebirds, by undesirable pest species, and by songbirds of conservation interest. Nor is anything known about the effects of feeder location on the attractiveness for game and other wildlife. We used camera traps to assess the above at 259 game feeders containing wheat grain at 3 lowland farms in southern England during the winters of 2012 and 2013. We conducted both paired feeding trials, where we set 1 feeder along hedgerow cover and the other 40 m into the adjacent field, and unpaired feeding trials, where we set only 1 feeder. We changed the location of existing feeders along hedgerow cover every 7-10 days to assess the time needed by wildlife to find new feeder locations and tested whether displaying rook (Corvus frugilegus) carcasses on top of the feeders reduced the number of corvids visiting feeders. No pest control was conducted at the feeders. We recorded 47 species in total (33 birds and 14 mammals). Feeders were visited by gamebirds and songbirds in early and late winter, but rodents, columbids, corvids, lagomorphs, predators (mammals and raptors), waterbirds, and other species accounted for 54% of visits and consumed 67% of grain provided. We recorded higher numbers of gamebirds, songbirds, rodents, and columbids per photograph at feeders along hedgerow cover than in the open, whereas corvids were more numerous in open fields. All brown rats (Rattus norvegicus, 17% of visits across seasons and sites) were photographed at feeders along hedgerow cover. After the change of location, gamebirds and songbirds located feeders at new locations within 1-3 days, whereas rodents needed 2-4 days. Rook carcasses reduced the number of corvids photographed at feeders by 55%, and number of songbirds by 83% but did not affect gamebird attendance. To prevent gamebird feeding practices from being inefficient and potentially counterproductive for ecological and economic reasons, feeders should be set along hedgerow cover when rats are properly controlled and in open fields when no control of rats is conducted, and their locations changed regularly. Ó 2015 The Wildlife Society.

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