Trapping and hunting of migratory raptors in Western Georgia during 1998
By Erwin van Maanen, Irakli Goradze, Alexandre Gavashelishvili and Rezo Goradze
1st draft
Trapping and hunting of migratory raptors in Western Georgia during 1998
By Erwin van Maanen, Irakli Goradze, Alexandre Gavashelishvili and Rezo Goradze
Introduction
From September 24 until 27 October 1998 the spectacular raptor migration, falconry tradition, and mortality of migratory raptors resulting from trapping and hunting was investigated with fact searching along the south-east coast of the Black Sea. This study is part of a project for the assessment and monitoring of biodiversity associated with wetlands, to be developed and implemented by the Regional Activity Centre for Black Sea Biodiversity in Batumi, within the TACIS- sponsored Black Sea Environment Programme (BSEP). The objectives of this project included:
- Base-line information synthesis on avifauna along the Georgian coast, determining species diversity, migration patterns, breeding and wintering distributions, population numbers, important bird areas, and anthropogenic impacts and threats;
- assessment and ecological characterisation of wetlands and their biodiversity in preparation of strategic conservation programmes;
- a study of the relationship between local communities and the wetlands, and a study of the opportunities for wise utilisation and management of wetlands;
- development of environmental education, public awareness and participation programmes aimed at the effective conservation of biodiversity.
The specific aim of the current study was to tackle one of the many key conservation issues on the local level, to demonstrate bird monitoring, and to use the results to facilitate the development of conservation biology at the Centre. It also presents an extension of an investigation by Gernant Magnin (1987), who characterised raptor migration and the problems associated with the traditional practice of Sparrowhawk trapping and falconry in north-east Turkey. Rather than reiterate Magnin’s excellent and detailed account of this practice in Turkey, the current study accentuates the somewhat distinct situation in Georgia.
With this case study the authors hope to attract more attention and support for nature conservation in Georgia, a relatively small country that is endowed with a mosaic of ecologically and geologically diverse and unique landscapes. These include low to high mountains, a myriad of rivers and streams, extensive forests, coastal and highland wetlands, arid steppes and semi-deserts. Unfortunately many of these environments are presently suffering from anthropogenic abuse, overexploitation and deterioration, a negative trend that is progressing at an alarming rate (1). The aftermath of a civil war, socio-economic crisis, and clumsy transition to the new but not yet fully understood system of democracy and privatisation, are primary underlying causes and driving forces. Moreover, Georgia as a whole represents an important but insufficiently studied, and perhaps underestimated gateway for migratory birds on their long and strenuous latitudinal journeys between breeding and wintering grounds.
Transmigration of raptors in Georgia
Study area
A migratory bird flying from the western spurs of the Greater Caucasus toward the Caucasus Minor in the south, would capture a low-lying and wedge-shaped landmass with unique ecological qualities, biogeographically known as the Colchic District (2). Kolkheti Lowland encompasses a predominantly flat plain containing a catchment for relatively unregulated rivers and streams fed by the melt water from permanent glaciers and snow, frequent rainfall, and mineral enriched mountain and lowland springs. In a nutshell, the wetland complex of the lowland is comprised of shingle seashore, permanent freshwater lakes and ponds, marshes, peats, Alder-dominated peat-swamp forests, fishponds and wet meadows. The human settlements in Kolkheti Lowland can be characterised as dishevelled industrial sea-side towns and townships. The surrounding scenic foothills harbour the more inviting and tranquil villages. Gardens, orchards, patches of exotic vegetation (eucalyptus, Tung and bamboo), uniform plots of maize, haricot bean, and terraced tea and citrus plantations are widespread and generally define the cultural and agricultural landscapes.
Although extensively altered and reclaimed by humans for arable and pastoral land since the beginning of this century, the Kolkheti Wetlands still serve as an important sanctuary for flora and fauna. So far it is the only wetland complex that has been designated by Georgia under the Ramsar Convention, which was ratified only recently in 1996. To migrating passerines, waterbirds and birds of prey (raptors) the wetlands are of vital importance as stepping-stone in the African-Eurasian bird migratory network. Moreover, the wetlands shelter sizeable and important populations of wintering waterbirds, finches, corvids and raptors.
Kolkheti Lowland is gradually restricted to a narrow strip of coastline by the Atchara-Imereti Mountains, terminating into a coastal plain (Kakhaberi) in the south, on which the city of Batumi is situated. The coastal foothills around this area are covered with dense deciduous forests, with evergreen undergrowth comprised of rare, endemic and relict vegetation. This vegetation is lush, flourishing in the humid sub-tropical climate and frequent rainfall. Further inland the mountains become more temperate and the vegetation changes into extensive beech-dominated forests, which transform in the higher parts into sub-alpine meadows.
Autumn bird migrations
In the second half of August the full-on autumn bird migrations are announced with the penetrating calls of Bee-eaters, which tumble high and unseen through the sky in great flocks. Shortly afterwards mixed flocks of raptors descent by gliding from the Greater Caucasus or sporadically spiralling downward from the sea sky. They converge at lower altitude into central Kolkheti and into the foothills of the Atchara-Imereti Mountains (see map 1), driven land inward by the prevailing westerly winds. Presumably the Greater Caucasus is traversed through the major river valleys in Svaneti and Ratcha, but this assumption needs verification. However, heavy bird migration is known to pass through Abkhazeti and along its coast (1). From the observations in this study it became clear that the surging migration continues along the foothills on the western side of the Likhi and Atchara-Imereti Mountains in a southern direction, straight past Batumi and then bending into the Chorokhi River valley. A large stream of raptors shoots through along the mountainous seacoast of north-east Turkey. Progressively the stream is reduced with migrants diverting off into the smaller river valleys to continue further inland across the Pontics, and fanning southward into the dry inland of Anatolia (see 6 for further details). This migratory pathway is known as the ‘East Black Sea Route’. In volume it allegedly carries through more raptors than the migratory raptor bottlenecks elsewhere in Europe, notably the straits of Gibraltar, Messina and Bosporus along the northern shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
The total number of passing raptors can be estimated in the tens of thousands. The Honey Buzzard is by far the most abundant migrant, numerically followed in decreasing order by: Steppe Buzzard > Eurasian Sparrowhawk > Black Kite > Booted Eagle, Kestrel, Levant Sparrowhawk, Hobby, Merlin, Marsh Harrier, Short-toed Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Red-footed Falcon > Goshawk, Montagu’s Harrier and Pallid Harrier. Egyptian Vulture, Osprey, Lesser Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and Spotted Eagle trickle through. Occasionally an Imperial Eagle passes by. These birds originate differentially from breeding populations in Fenno-Scandinavia and/or from Russia west of the Ural Mountains. A banded Honey Buzzard from Finland, recovered from a hunter, provides evidence for the Fenno-Scandinavian breeding origin of this species. Due to time and capacity constraints, comprehensive relative counts of migratory raptors according to species, age and gender cohorts, and in relation to environmental conditions (weather) and peaking of passage could not be made during this study. Follow-up is certainly required by way of a more elaborate conservation study under proposal. Pronounced heavy migration was observed in the foothills next to the villages of Likhauri, Makhindjauri and at the Georgia-Turkey border town of Sarpi. Several raptor species closely pursued the flocks of passerines that stage in the low coastal vegetation. Noticeable numbers of Merlin - for example 5 females perched on gravel mounds during one day on a 100m stretch of beach - were observed preying on larks and pipits in the meadows of Kakhaberi Wetland around mid-October. Pallid Harriers, Montagu’s Harriers and Sparrowhawks also frequently paused and hunted in this area when not disturbed by the relentless hunting, the target practice with small arms and heavy artillery in the adjacent military firing range (‘Polygon’) or the choking fumes of the burning landfill on the bank of the Choroki River.
Additional, but less voluminous raptor migratory lines have been recognised further east across Georgia and are currently under study (3). Thermals and updrafts arising over the gorges, canyons, valleys and ridges in and between the opposing Greater and Lesser Caucasus ranges play an important role in directing these lines, causing funnelling in places. An important corridor in the central part of the Greater Caucasus is the Dariali Gorge (Tergi River), the greater part of which is located above the timberline, in the district of Kazbegi. Large numbers of Honey Buzzard, Common
Buzzard, harriers (predominantly Pallid and Montagu’s) and Black Kite have been observed to pass through this gorge in the fall. Leaving this gorge, the migrants continue their journey through the Aragvi Gorge, from where the migration fans out south to span a short stretch of relatively flat and largely cultivated lowland. Presumably another stream of raptors passes along the eastern side of the Likhi range, but this needs to be verified. In the south the migrants converge into the Borjomi Canyon and progress along the sparsely vegetated Mtkvari (Kura) River and Paravani River gorges, or migrate in broad-front across the highland plateau and lake complex of Javakheti. At the extreme eastern end of Georgia, lying on the border with Azerbaijan, raptor migration is pronounced over the Iori plateau. Certainly for eagles, the eastern range of the Greater Caucasus is an important passageway, proceeding from there across Georgia over slanted steppes and river valleys. Together with the East Black Sea migrants, the inland migrants merge or fly a parallel route beyond the Lesser Caucasus in Turkey and Armenia, and proceed to their wintering destinations; for short-distance migrants in the Mediterranean and Middle-East and for long-distance migrants in sub-Saharan Africa.
Trapping of Sparrowhawks
As they descent low into the forested foothills on the coastal side of the Atchara-Imereti Mountains, migratory raptors face a great peril. Concealed trappers and hunters wait patiently for them in ambush. The authors observed this event closely in the densely populated foothills of the Makhindjauri area, 5.5km north of Batumi. The trappers are eager to catch Eurasian Sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus), which they call ‘Mimino’. During favourable weather they sit in a hut or behind an erect screen fabricated out of planks/poles, string/wire, and closely interwoven branches stuffed with bracken. The trapper starts to build his hides on a place that is renown for heavy migration, two or three days before the trapping commences. The trapping (chitbadoba) season traditionally starts on the 19th of August, the Orthodox Day of the Saviour (Peritsvaleba), shortly after the first migrant Sparrowhawks have passed through. The hides are strategically positioned on open ridges between 300-400m altitude, with a command view to the migration front, and often against the background of dense scrubs. Different locations are used to account for changing wind directions and position of the sun. Trees are cut and trimmed wherever they obstruct the view. A sail-shaped net (chitbade) stretched tautly across two sticks (bamboo or hazelnut) of 2.5m in length is placed firmly upright into the ground directly next to the hide. The net is preferably knotted of black thread with mesh size of 4cm x 4cm. The trappers can be divided into two target groups:
- Professional falconers endeavouring to train a Sparrowhawk for the pastime of hunting migrating Quail (Coturnix coturnix), and to compete in the falconry competitions held at the end of the trapping season. About 25% of the trapper population can be regarded as professional falconers abiding to a traditional code of practice and ethics in falconry.
- A majority of unregistered amateur falconers, who are comparable to sport fishermen in that they addictively trap Sparrowhawks simply for the thrill of it, without a specific subsequent use for the hawks other than pet or show object.
The favourite lure for catching Sparrowhawks is a Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), locally called ‘Ghazho’. Sometimes other birds such as sparrows are used. Catching of the decoys in the Guria region conventionally starts on the religious holiday of Elioba, on the 3rd of August. A modern-day construction for the trapping of shrikes consists of a dome-shaped cage, with a trapdoor activated by a bent wire. A large active insect is used as bait inside the cage, preferably a Mole Cricket (Makhra) shovelled from dung heaps. Both adult and juvenile shrikes are trapped. Juveniles are preferred since adult shrikes are difficult to tame and train. The purpose of the training is to condition the shrike into a conspicuous lure for Sparrowhawks. The shrike is required to explosively flutter or “dance” behind the net. At home the tarsi of the shrike are tied with ribbons to a string of 0.5m in length. The other end of the string is tied to the centre of a one metre long stick with a roughened and blackened surface. During the first three days the shrike is untame and needs to get used to its perch and the human presence. At this stage the shrike is only tempted with food. On the 4th day the trapper starts feeding the shrike with minced meat. As soon as the shrike accepts food from the hand it is tied to the end of the stick and ‘’dance” lessons commence. The shrike is taken outside and the trainer gently rocks the stick at first, increasing it finally to a flick to dislodge the bird and make it flutter upwards. At the same time he should move the stick up and down underneath the fluttering bird to prevent it from quickly resettling. This procedure is repeated twice a day for a period of ten days, after which the shrike is considered ready to be a proper decoy. Almond-shaped patches of leather or plastic are then placed with glue to cover the sharp eyes of the shrike. This prevents the shrike from spotting an approaching hawk, which can trigger unwanted escape behaviour. A slot on the underside of the artificial eyelid is left open to allow the shrike to navigate back onto the stick. During the trapping season, the shrike is perched on the same stick, with a small bundle of fresh meat tied on for food at its disposal. A trapper usually trains two shrikes to account for an exhausted bird during a long day of trapping, or in worst case for a decoy dying in action.
From the vantage of the hides, incoming raptors can be clearly spotted in time for the trapper to move into position. The trapper bobs down behind the hide, peeping out through the slot to monitor the situation. He reaches out the stick with the perched shrike, twisting it so that the decoy goes aloft and flutters up and down behind the net, alluring an unsuspecting hawk into the trap. The tempted hawk makes a fast and decisive dive into the net, inevitably entangling itself. Upon impact the trapper rapidly throws the net forward, flat onto the ground. The captured and often fiercely struggling victim is immediately but gently removed from the net. Sometimes a hawk gets injured in the net, upon which the trapper kills it and may use it to feed his shrikes. Useful Sparrowhawks are tied with a handkerchief (saghliamkhe) around torso and wings, stored in a flannel bag and placed out of harms way. The number of Sparrowhawks trapped at the end of a day can be considerable. One trapper reported a day-catch of thirty. It was observed how he managed to catch three birds within thirty minutes. Trapping can therefore take on a prestigious character, with trappers in the same area competing for the highest day-catch. Weather conditions can influence the trapping success. On cloudy days Sparrowhawks are much more responsive to the temptation of a decoy. The hawks then fly at lower altitude through the foothills, often stopping to roost in the vegetation and taking time to scan the environment and notice prey.
The trapper makes a critical selection of his Sparrowhawks for falconry training or for keeping it as an attractive pet. The appraisal is based on morphology, feather markings, colour, behavioural character, age and size. A small head, long neck, short tarsi, broad torso, and long wings with ‘open-scissor-like’ ends when folded are regarded as ideal physical features. Feather markings are compared with standard patterns in nature. Yellow, rust and white are the standard colours. Sparrowhawks with unusual white coloration (leucism) in their plumage and an obvious brow stripe are a highly desired. Some trappers even go through the trouble of dyeing or bleaching their hawk! Mimino with a ‘’bad character’’ (read also unsuitable for falconry) should be discarded. These can be recognised by having a “white tongue” and “black eyes” (tval shavi), actually referring to Levant Sparrowhawk. “Good natured” Mimino should instead have a “black tongue” and “yellow eyes”. The trapper’s nomenclature also accounts for age and gender[1]. A juvenile female Sparrowhawk is referred to as ‘nardi’ and a juvenile musket as ‘gezela’ Adult female and male Sparrowhawks are respectively referred to as ‘kapo-eti’ and ‘tawarnaki’. Gezela and adult Sparrowhawks are rejected, considered unsuitable for training. A nardi is preferred because it is more capable of hunting Quail than ‘gezela’, and is much more readily trained than adult birds.