1. IMPACTS OF NUMIDIDAE AND PHASIANIDAE BIRDS ON FOOD CROPS IN CASSAVA, MAIZE, PEANUT, BEAN, TOMATO, PINEAPPLE AND YAM FIELDS IN IN THE BOMBOLUMENE HUNTING ESTATE AND RESERVE IN KINSHASA (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO).
- Author
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Milolo, Jean Victor Tshisuku, Swana, Willy Lusasi, Bekomo, Jeff Iteku, Makaly, Emmanuel Biey, and Eyul'Anki, Dieudonné Musibono
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FOOD crops , *PHASIANIDAE , *GUINEAFOWL , *FIELD crops , *TUBERS , *PEANUTS , *BIRD food , *PINEAPPLE - Abstract
Many bird populations live in Africa, and among these birds, some species can be formidable pests of crops. The general objective of this study is to count the impacts of Numididae and Phasianidae birds on food crops in the fields of cassava, maize, groundnut, bean, tomato, pineapple and yam in the Bombo-Lumene Hunting Estate and Reserve in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Birds were captured using unbaited and baited traps during several sampling operations between september 2019 and december 2020. Observed and captured birds were identified using appropriate identification keys. To identify Numididae and Phasianidae bird damage on food crops, observations were made on ten fields of 7.5 ares each located in grassy areas. The results revealed the presence of pest birds of the families Numididae and Phasianidae in the food crop fields of the Bombo-Lumene Estate and Hunting Reserve. These birds were grouped into three species (Numida meleagris Linnea, 1758, Francolinus afer Statius Muller, 1776 and F. coqui Smith, 1836) and two genera (Numida and Francolinus). Francolinus afer and Numida meleagris were among the species that most frequently attacked crops in several ways by damaging certain plant organs. Francolinus afer and Numida meleagris only pecked at tubers, cassava cuttings, some seeds (maize, groundnut, bean, etc.) without totally destroying the plants. In maize, cassava, groundnut, cowpea and tomato crops, these birds used their beaks and legs to dig up and peck seeds, attack roots as soon as they tuberized, and pull out fruits. Plant organs usually damaged were: leaves, tubers, cuttings, seeds, young shoots, spikes and even the whole plant. In view of the above, producers are called upon to put in place methods of dissuasion, notably scarecrows, in order to be able to benefit from almost all of their production. The managers of protected areas are called upon to ban cultivation in the areas under their jurisdiction to avoid the amplification of human-wildlife conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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