The Grey Partridge Past, Present and Future

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The Grey PartridgePast, Present and Future
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Iconic Image

• Throughout Europe, Asia and North America (where
  it was introduced) the Grey Partridge was a
  prolific species and was the most numerous bird
  on many arable farms.
• In the 20th century it became an iconic image of
  rural Britain with coveys of partridge to be
  seen in most fields.

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Global Decline

• The Grey Partridge decline is clearly a world
  phenomenon but no where is it more significant
  than in England.
• Our focus is on Grey Partridge but it also poses
  the question as to the effect of the same factors
  on a wide range of other wildlife species, such
  as butterflies, sharing the same habitat.
• Is this an indication that all is not well in the
  British countryside?

Meadow Brown
Tortoiseshell
Peacock
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Habitat Improvement
Nesting cover
Grey Partridge favour nest sites in grass margins
adjacent to hedgerows on banks
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Insect Dependency
Red-Leg Partridge and chicks
Grey Partridge and chicks
The use of pesticides breaks the chick food
chain. This is so crucial for the Grey Partridge
because the chicks are solely dependant on a
plentiful supply of suitable insect species for
the first 10 days after hatching before they
start to eat seeds. It is interesting that Red
Leg partridge chicks start on seeds after only 3
days.
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Research programme for Conservation Headlands

• Does it work for another game species? Yes it
  does and also for song birds

Pheasant
Linnet
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Research programme for Conservation Headlands
Corn Marigold
Field Mouse

• Other benefits to wildlife
• Wildflowers
• Butterflies
• Small mammals
• Predatory beetles

Predatory Beetle
Hedge Brown
Prickly Poppy