What is the importance of the pheasants in the novel, Danny the Champion of the World?

Pheasants are small ground birds that roost in trees only at night. They love raisins, and are capable of flying short distances. Pheasants are regularly raised and hunted for food, but they are raised only to be killed for sport by Mr. Hazell and his guests. This disappoints Danny and many other locals, who poach pheasants with the ultimate intent to eat them. Danny later goes out on a poach with his father to steal all the pheasants from Hazell so they cannot be killed purely for enjoyment. When Hazell demands the return of his pheasants, the pheasants fly off in the opposite direction of his property.