Local knowledge of the Bornean Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron schleiermacheri: a critique of O'Brien et al. (1998a)

In a recent study, O'Brien et al. (1998a) sought to provide a better understanding of the distribution and status of the Bornean Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron schleiermacheri in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, based on an analysis of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with local inhabitants. This was the first scientific contribution concerning this species after the launch of the Conservation Action Plan for Pheasants (McGowan and Garson 1995). Although the authors of this study acknowledged and discussed the limitations of the questionnaire approach and some of the anomalies in the replies they received, we still feel that the questions posed in this survey may have been phrased in such a way as to invite slight biases in the answers, and that some of the analyses of the replies may have created further biases. We therefore feel it may be helpful to review these uncertain areas in order to help improve questionnaire surveys in future fieldwork. Two of us (I.S. and A.P.S.) helped conduct the surveys in question, and all of us have experience of galliforms in Kalimantan. We occasionally refer to additional information concerning the survey which was presented in another publication (O'Brien et al. 1998b).