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Bid to boost wild grey partridge numbers
FARMERS and landowners are being urged to help boost the recovery of wild grey partridges – one of the Isle of Man's most rapidly declining farmland birds – by joining the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust's grey partridge count scheme.
Grey partridges have suffered a massive 87 per cent decline nationally in the last 40 years – mostly driven by habitat changes, predators and a lack of food.
This situation is replicated in the Isle of Man, where partridge numbers are thought to be as low as just 50 pairs, according to the Manx Bird Atlas.
John Crellin, chairman of the Manx Game Preservation Society, is passionate about restoring grey partridges.
He said: 'I remember in the 1950s when there were no pheasants, and we just shot greys, woodcock and duck. We had a covey of partridges in every field and I would love to see that again.
'Through the Manx Game Preservation Society, I am keen to encourage more people to get involved in partridge conservation and to sign up to the trust's grey partridge count scheme, so that once again we might have a harvestable surplus.'
To kick-start partridge recovery John Crellin invited Peter Thompson and Neville Kingdon from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust to the Island to offer partridge conservation advice to farmers and landowners and to investigate whether it would be possible to boost the extremely low grey partridge population.
Mr Kingdon, the trust's partridge count scheme coordinator, estimated that the Island could support at least 300 pairs of grey partridges, once necessary habitat improvements have been made.
Neville said: 'It would be really disappointing if grey partridges died out in the Island. In the UK, our figures show that members of our grey partridge count scheme are really making a difference in reversing their decline because, as well as counting their birds, they are also putting in the right conservation measures.
'Even if people only have one or two partridges and are counting on a small patch of land, it does help us to monitor any increases in the partridge population. We also offer extensive advice to members of our scheme on the best way of managing the land for grey partridges and much of this work can be funded through agri-environment schemes.'
One of the most notable factors in favour of grey partridge restoration here is that there are no foxes.
Peter Thompson, the trust's farmland biodiversity advisor, said: 'Foxes are a major predator of grey partridges, so once important habitats such as insect-rich brood rearing habitat have been created, the species has a good chance of recovery, particularly if people are providing extra food during the leanest months of winter.'
To further boost partridge recovery, the trust is keen to set up a grey partridge group, which will be the 17th group to be launched by the trust.
Peter Thompson said: 'There is a lot of enthusiasm for grey partridges in the Island and we hope that setting up a new recovery group, as well as getting more people involved in counting their birds, will help to boost the population in the Island.'
For advice, a free conservation guide on restoring grey partridges or to join the Trust's grey partridge count scheme, contact Neville Kingdon on 01425 651066 or email nkingdon@gct.org.uk
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Weather for Isle of Man
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South west
