RESOURSE GUARDIANSHIP (Red billed Quelea)

My project on the red billed quelea bird.

Some info on this magnificent bird

The Red-billed Quelea is the world's most abundant wild bird species, with an estimated adult breeding population of 1.5b billion. Some estimates of the overall population have been as large as 10 billion. It is a small passerine bird of the weaver family Ploceidae, native to sub-Saharan Africa.

Characteristics

Red-billed Quelea grow to 11-13cm. During breeding the male is distinguished by its more colorful plumage and red billed. Breeding plumage in male queleas is unusually variable, comprising a facial mask which ranges back to white in color, and breast and crown plumage which varies from yellowish to bright red. for the rest of the year male plumage resembles that of the female, which is cryptic beige coloration. The female's bill is yellow during breeding and red during the non-breeding season.

Food

The food of the Red-billed Quelea consists of annual grasses, seeds and grain. As soon as the sun comes up, they come together in their huge flocks and co-operate in finding a suitable feeding place. After a successful search, they settle rapidly and can cause serious damage to crops. In the middle part of the day they rest in shady areas near water and preen. Birds seem to prefer drinking at least twice a day. In the evening they once again fly in search of food.


Reproduction 


Breeding is localized and erratic but often colonies include tens of thousands to millions of pairs. the breeding season begins with the seasonal rains, which come at different times in different parts of their range - starting at the north -western edge around the beginning of November. The breeding males first weave half-complete ovoid nest from grass and straw. After the female has examined the construction and the mating has occurred, both partners complete the weaving of the nest. The female lays two to four light blue eggs, and incubates them for twelve days. After the chicks hatch they are nourished for some days with caterpillars and protein-rich insects. After this time parents change to mainly feeding seeds. The young birds fledged and become independent enough to leave their parents after approximately two weeks in the nest. They are sexually mature after just one year, but many birds die before reaching this stage and males may weave nests that go unused if the female dies.


Enemies and population control 

Being such a considerable part of the savanna biomass, Red-billed Quelea flocks and colonies attract huge numbers and diverse types of predator and scavengers. Birds known to live extensively off of queleas  include herons, storks, raptors, owls, horn-bills, rollers, kingfishers, shrikes and corvids. Additionally, snakes, lizards and serval types of mammals, especially rodents and small carnivores, are regular predators.
They are regarded as pests by farmers because they can eliminate fields in a short period of time. Due to the numbers and localized decimation of cereal crops, control actions have been undertaken. As many as 150-180 million birds have been killed but this appeared to have no effect on the overall quelea population and only temporary relief from crop damage. unfortunately, many non-target birds appeared to have been killed in these control operations and may have had severe population deprevations as a result