GWCT calls in grey partridge counts

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“We need to hear from everybody in the Partridge Count Scheme this season, even if counts are a bit behind. Despite all the doom and gloom, we think some people will be pleasantly surprised by the number of partridges this season.”

By Selena Masson, Shooting Times

Thursday, 09 October 2008

Despite the late harvest, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is urging shooters to send in their autumn count figures for grey partridge as soon as they have been completed.

The GWCT’s Dr Julie Ewald said: “We need to hear from everybody in the Partridge Count Scheme this season, even if counts are a bit behind. Despite all the doom and gloom, we think some people will be pleasantly surprised by the number of partridges this season.”

With the 2010 Biodiversity Action Plan target for grey partridges now approaching very rapidly Julie said: “We have to show that the grey partridge population is above 90,000 by 2010. One of the most accurate ways of monitoring their recovery is through the Partridge Count Scheme and so it is vitally important that members of the scheme submit their counts for this autumn as soon as they can.”

Partridge Count Scheme members should return their forms to Neville Kingdon at the Trust. However, the Trust is always keen to recruit new members to the Partridge Count Scheme. The scheme already receives contributions from more than 1,000 farmers and gamekeepers across the country and it is one of the most successful farmer-led bird monitoring schemes in Europe. But in an effort to save one of our most threatened bird species, more effort is needed. Neville Kingdon explains: “Our count scheme helps us to form a national picture of the partridge population and this enables us to provide targeted and site specific advice and support to areas where the population is still continuing to decline or has disappeared completely. Even if people have only one or two partridges on their land, it is vitally important that they get involved in the scheme.”

For more information tel 01425 651066.

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