Population status, feeding ecology and activity pattern of helmeted guinea fowl (<i>Numidia meleagris</i>) in Abijata-Shalla Lakes National Park

Abstract

This study documents the population status, feeding ecology and activity pattern of helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) in Abijata-Shalla Lakes National Park. Data were collected in 2011 during the dry and wet seasons. Direct observation including focal observation and scan sampling methods were used to collect data to study the feeding ecology and activity patterns. Total count method was used to study the population status. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and results compared with Chi-square test and one way ANOVA. The mean number of helmeted guinea fowl in the study area was 225 during the dry season and 208 during the wet season. Helmeted guinea fowls were omnivores during both seasons. The species prefers insects during wet season (71.6%) and largely consumes nodes and seeds of grasses during the dry season (75.2%). Feeding was the most important diurnal activity, followed by scanning, flying, resting and preening. There was a strong relationship between time allocated to each activity and time of the day. Group size ranged from 2 to 21 individuals. These birds were affected primarily by the loss of foraging and nesting habitat and by human disturbance. Different conservation measures should be taken to enhance the number of helmeted guinea fowl by creating suitable habitat.

Key words: Diurnal activity pattern, foraging ecology, helmeted guinea fowl, population.