Home range movements and ecology of the gray partridge, Perdix perdix perdix L. in a selected area of eastern Kings County, Nova Scotia

Home range, movements and ecology of Gray Partridge, (Perdix perdix) were studied on 7200 A. of intensively farmed land in eastern Kings County, Nova Scotia during 1963-65. Eighty percent of partridge observations occurred between September and March. Partridge utilized 14 percent of the study area in 1963-64. Observed partridge distributions were similar in all seasons within the study area prior to and during the investigation, and appeared to be dependent on interspersions of orchard, field crops, hay, pastures and grain crops. Bird utilization of these cover types was seasonal; shifts between cover types were dependent upon availability of food, cover and snow conditions. Birds shifted from oat stubbles to pastures and residual field crops in early winter. Barnyard, houseyard and roadside use increased in January and peaked in February. Orchard, grain and field crop use began in late March and peaked in mid-summer. A major observed use of mature, grassed orchards in spring may be the feature that initially stimulates wandering paired birds to select orchards as the nuclei of home ranges. Gray Partridge distributions will probably be maintained within the observed cover units, barring major land use changes within these units. Fifty-two partridge in coveys were back-tagged in February and March 1964 and 10 during February 1965. Severity of winter weather was not reflected in the external conditions of trapped birds. Twelve tagged birds were recovered or resighted after late winter covey breakup a mean distance of 1.7 miles from trap site; ten were located in previously observed home range units. Peak of hatch occurred between June 28 and July 5 as determined from wing moult of 15 juvenile partridge, representing 10 coveys and, by field aging, 10 different broods. Re-nesting appeared uncommon. Sex ratios of adult birds favoured males (75:25) in a combined fall shot and winter trapped sample (N=25). A severe case of entero-hepatitis was found in one female partridge. Incidence of infection within the population was undetermined. Six specimens analyzed had D.D.T. levels of less than .1 ppm.