GWCT: grey partridges can stage a fightback

The wild grey partridge is fighting back against population declines, showing an 81 per cent increase on land that is specifically managed for the species, according to a review published in the scientific journal Animal Biodiversity and Conservation.

The review, carried out by Dr Nicholas Aebischer, deputy director of research with the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), identifies the three main causes of the partridge’s decline — loss of nesting habitat, poor chick survival through insect loss and increased predation pressure. Critically, the review also identifies the most effective solutions for fast-tracking recovery.

The review suggests that birds show an impressive rise in numbers where land managers specifically target grey partridge recovery by providing year-round habitat management, supplementary feeding and predator control.

The rest of this article appears in the 9th January issue of Shooting Times.

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