Enchant Project – Strong Farmlands. Thriving Habitat.

We have a long-term working relationship with a modern farm to evaluate approaches for re-establishing vibrant upland game bird densities while maintaining a profitable farming operation. We also monitor a range of non-target species to assess how these treatments impact biodiversity (amphibians and songbirds). We trial enhancements that focus on improving habitat features important for nesting, brood rearing, and winter survival of pheasants and grey partridge. This includes approaches within the crop, the juxtaposition of crop types and rotation, harvest method, field edge improvements, water management and wetlands, and trialling seed mixes important for chick survival. In 2021, we completed a vegetation inventory of the plant species present at the Enchant farm. We planted Roundup Ready Corn to provide escape and thermal cover but also to help control unwanted weeds. ACA staff and the farm habitat managers planted 2.75 km of additional shrub rows (2,750 shrubs) to increase territorial space for pheasants and grey partridge at the farm. We planted approximately 1,000 willow stakes around three wetlands. The density of partridge pairs decreased from 79 pairs (13.3 pairs/km2) in spring 2020 to 70 pairs (11.8 pairs/km2) in spring 2021. In autumn, partridge totals also decreased from 172 in October 2020 to 135 in 2021. We trialled two different soft-release methods, releasing a total of 298 pheasants at the farm.

Partnerships

Alberta Environment and Parks, Haggins Family, Stamp Farms

Annual Summaries

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