Remarkable Pheasants and Their Chicks in the National Park

In the National Nature Park “Tuzly Lagoons”, scientists spotted a female pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) with eight chicks boldly wandering along paths frequented by jackals.

This was reported by Ivan Rusev, head of the research department at the National Park.

Do you know what tactics pheasants employ to protect their offspring? These incredible birds spend most of their lives on the ground, which is why they have developed strategies to confuse even the craftiest predators. 

Pheasants, especially the females, pretend to be injured or sick when they sense danger, particularly when their chicks are nearby. They distract attention from the nest by crawling or flying away to the side, making characteristic sounds that mimic an injured bird. They sacrifice themselves for the sake of the next generation, but still hope to divert the predator, escape, and return to their chicks.

Unfortunately, pheasants face numerous threats to their survival, including the destruction of floodplain meadows, cutting down protective forest belts, the use of herbicides and pesticides, and especially hunting. To preserve the species, hunting of this bird must be prohibited, environmentally friendly agricultural practices must be implemented, birds should be fed during harsh winters, and thickets and floodplain meadows should be preserved. The pheasant is protected under the EU Birds Directive and the Bern Convention.