A Temporal Status of Some Game Bird Population in Bolu, Turkey

*Corresponding author cihangirkirazli@ibu.edu.tr Abstract. Chukar Partridge, Grey Partridge, Common Quail, European Turtle Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Woodcock and Common Blackbird are popular game birds for Turkey. It is important to gather information about the population of game birds to properly manage the hunting season in each region of Turkey. The study was carried out to evaluate the temporal status and true and reliable informations of some game birds for avoidance of the conflict between conservation of game birds and hunting tourism. A total of 18 field study were conducted from October 2015 to August 2016 in important wildlife areas of Bolu, Yeniçağa Wetland, Yedigöller National Park, Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant and Köroğlu Mountains. A dataset containing information on game birds of Bolu between 2004 and 2016 was derived from bird observers’ and checklist web page. According to the results, Partridges were not observed, Woodcock was rarely recorded, European Turtle Dove and Common Quail as summer visitor and Common Woodpigeon and Common Blackbird as resident were reproduced in the study area. Consequently, hunting can be granted for game birds except Partridges, Turtledove and Woodcock, but the hunting should be conditional on lower amount for especially Quail.