Evaluation of the food of red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea) during cropping season in gyawana and environs, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Evaluation of the food of red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea) during cropping season in Gyawana and environs, Adamawa State, Nigeria, was carried out to identify the food of Quelea quelea during the cropping season. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) male and female birds were captured in the wild; using black nylon mist nets with dimensions of 7 x 2.5m and mesh size of 16 mm. Subtotals of fifty birds were captured per month. The crop contents of the Q. quelea sampled for this research work reveals a total number of twelve taxonomically different food items. In terms of frequency and magnitude of occurrence in the food items, Dactyloctenium aegyptium appears to be the most consumed food of Red-billed Quelea with mean of 161.24+ 2.16 and 157.33+ 2.14 in male and female respectively. This was followed by Oryza barthi 63.25+ 4.26 in male and 61.23+ 1.61in female, then Oryza sativa 42.16 ±1.21in both male and female, while Digitaria iburua has the mean of 27.16+2.46 and 31.14 +0.37 in male and female respectively. Roetboellia exaltata was 36.11 ±1.23 in male and 37.13 ±4.33 in female. Soghum bicolor with mean value of 28.08 ±1.43 in male and 26.13 ±2.21 in female. Setaria pallidofusca was 26.08 ±3.22 in male and 24.06 ±3.3 in female; Echinochloa colonum has 18.741+1.47 and15.43+1.27 mean in male and female respectively. Brachiaria mutica has 09.21 +0.27 and male and 11.04 ± 1.63 in female, this was followed by the least seed consumed Digitaria ciliaris with a mean of 3.44 ± 1.09 in both male and female Q. quelea. The mean value of grits in the crop contents of male Q. quelea was 04.21 ±2.06 and in female was 04.73 ±3.03. Some quantities of insect remains were observed in the crop contents of female Q. quelea, with the highest mean value of 07.13 ±05.01. Analysis of variance was used to compare the mean value of various seeds consumed by the Q. quelea during the period of study. The result shows there was significant difference in the food items consumed by Q. quelea during cropping season. In conclusion, for this period of study September to November, it was observed that Q. quelea is euryphagous, Dactyloctenium aegyptium was the most preferred seed foraged upon, although it varied in quantity, while the least preferred seed was found to be Digitaria ciliaris. Insects remains were found in the diet of female Q. quelea, while grits was found in small quantities in both male and female Q. quelea. The researchers therefore, recommend that further studies should be carried out on biological control on Quelea birds, by the reintroduction of their predators such as the red-necked falcon falco chicquera into the area.