Winter feeding sites selection of White-browed Hill Partridge

Abstract

The winter feeding sites of White-browed Hill Partridge (Arborophila gingica) was investigated in Jiuwanshan National Nature Reserve in Guangxi from November to December 2010. With the 34 found feeding sites, the used sites (n=25) were compared with the control sites (n=25), and 19 parameters were measured at each site. The results showed that White-browed Hill Partridge randomly use broadleaved forest, mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest, mixed broadleaved-bai bamboo (Indosasa shibataeoides) forest and bai bamboo forest, while they rarely occurred in mao bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forest and China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) forest. The birds prefer to select the southeast-facing slops of 20-44 degrees, with smaller bai bamboo-shrub and grass density, lower bai bamboo-shrub and grass coverage, and greater shatter coverage. We found that the main selection factors at the used and control feeding sites, using the Step DA, were the shatter coverage, slope, and bai bamboo-shrub coverage. The veracity to distinguish was 86.0%. The feeding sites selection of White-browed Hill Partridge is associate with food resources and safety index, thus, we suggest that the protection should focus on these two aspects.