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Conservation status of the Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2010

Dai Bo ,
Simon D. Dowell ,
Rodney P. Martins  and
Robert S. R. Williams
Dai Bo
Affiliation:
Wildlife Conservation Division, Sichuan Provincial Forestry Department, No. 15 Section 1st of Renminbeilu Street, Chengdu 610082, Sichuan Province, P.R. of China
Simon D. Dowell
Affiliation:
School of Biological & Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, U.K.
Rodney P. Martins
Affiliation:
6, Connaught Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 3BP, U.K.
Robert S. R. Williams
Affiliation:
Biosphere Consultants, 6, Waldeck Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 4PG, U.K.
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The critically endangered Sichuan Hill-partridge Arborophila rufipectus occupies a restricted range in south-central China. Field surveys within this range were undertaken using line transects in 1996 and 1997. Calling males were recorded from nine subtropical forest tracts within an area totalling 1,793 km2 and consisting of primary, natural secondary and replanted broadleaf forest between 1,100 and 2,235 m elevation. The only sightings obtained were in primary forest. The mean density of calling males estimated from data collected during transect surveys was 0.48 ± 0.06 and 0.24 ± 0.16 calling birds km−2 in 1996 and 1997 respectively. There was no difference in density estimates for calling males between primary forest and secondary/replanted broadleaf forest. The principal threat to the continued survival of the species is clear-felling of primary forest, but clear-felled areas are often replanted with native broadleaf trees and records of Sichuan Hill-partridge calls in such plantations offers hope for its future survival. Forest management should be modified to make forestry practices more sympathetic to the conservation of the Sichuan Hill-partridge.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bird Conservation International , Volume 8 , Issue 4: Special Issue: International Galliformes Symposium , December 1998 , pp. 349 - 359
Copyright
Copyright © Birdlife International 1998

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