Population status, feeding ecology and activity pattern of helmeted guinea fowl (Numidia meleagris) 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.