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COUNTDOWN
2002 - Cheshire region Biodiversity Programme
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Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix)
Date compiled - 1997
Date reviewed - 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002
Objective
- To halt the decline, in both numbers
and range, by 2005
- Aim to increase the current population
by 20% by 2015
- Maintain and where possible enhance
the current range of this species
Current
Status
Having undergone a long term decline
since the 1950s, the grey partridge is included in the 'red list' of 'Birds
of Conservation Concern' with a population decrease of more than 50% over the
last 25 years. As such the grey partridge is considered to be one of the 36
species of birds in the United Kingdom most in need of urgent conservation action.
National trend analysis in 'The State of the UK's Birds 2000' survey (RSPB,
WWT, BTO) shows a short term decline of 27% and a long term decline of 84%.
Within the Cheshire region their numbers are reported as being 'drastically
reduced', even at remaining strongholds such as Frodsham Marshes.
The grey partridge is protected under
the Game Act (open season; 1st September - 1st February) and is listed in Annex
III/I of the EC Birds Directive and Appendix III of the Berne Convention.
Records of grey partridge on the
rECOrd database as at 01/12/00 (red = post 1980,
black = pre 1980):
Threats
- Reduced availability of chick
food supplies, such as caterpillars, plant bugs and beetles, due to increased
us of pesticides and herbicides on farmland.
- The switch from spring to autumn
crops, resulting in the loss of overwintered stubbles and a consequent reduction
in winter food supplies.
- Loss of suitable nest sites, such
as hedge bottoms and rough grassland, due to agricultural intensification.
- Decline in numbers of game keeps
has increased the vulnerability of nests to predators, especially in a modern
farm landscape with limited nesting cover.
- Nest destruction caused by early
mowing (i.e. the switch from hay to silage) and other farm machinery operations.
- Increased human disturbance during
the breeding season.
Current
Action
- The Game Conservancy Trust encourages
land managers to create suitable conditions for grey partridge, such as nest
sites (field margins), chick feeding areas (conservation headlands) and winter
foraging sites (stubble fields).
- The MAFF Country side Stewardship
Scheme (CSS) provides grant aid for farmers to encourage environmentally sensitive
management. A range of options under this scheme (i.e. grass margins, hedge
planting) have the potential to benefit grey partridge.
- The introduction of the new arable
options into CSS in 2002 will significantly add to the value of this
scheme in delivering widespread benefits for the grey partridge and other
farmland birds.
- A project bid for landfill tax
monies have been submitted.
Action
Required
- Increase the provision of information
and management advice on grey partridge to land managers.
- Investigate the production and
distribution of an advisory pack concerning management for the grey partridge.
- Organise a series of talks on
the grey partridge, aimed at farmer clubs and discussion groups.
- Identify farmers/landowners willing
to undertake a partridge recover project.
- Establish a demonstration farm,
which could be used to highlight beneficial management practices for grey
partridge.
- Promote game Conservancy Trust
habitat management such as conservation headlands and beetle banks, to increase
partridge chick food.
- Encourage the provision of grey
partridge nesting and feeding habitat through the Countryside Stewardship
Scheme.
- Encourage the use of the wild
bird cover set aside option and other game cover mixes.
- Encourage a more targeted and
cautious use of pesticides, as opposed to prophylactic spraying of crops.
- Promote the use of legal predator
control and encourage measures to increase the number of game keepers.
- Promote retention of overwintered
stubble and encourage the planting of forage crops such as kale in pastoral
areas.
- Where appropriate, consider establishing
management practices on reserves and local authority owned farms/amenity grassland
to benefit the grey partridge.
- Use the grey partridge example
in agricultural courses to illustrate the impact intensive farming may have
on wildlife.
- Seek sponsorship and grant aid
to implement the grey partridge action plan.
- Carry out a distribution survey
throughout the Cheshire region by way of a questionnaire to landowners.
- Once complete, analyse the results
to identify areas suitable for targeting practical management.
- Form links with the Cereal
field margins BAP and the Ancient and/or
species-rich Hedgerows BAP.
Action
Completed
- LBAP Action Group has been formed.
- Links to other farmland Bird BAPs
through the generic farmland bird BAP
- Targeting agri - environment schemes
at farmland bird hotspots in the region.
- Species recording card for grey
partridge produced by Cheshire County Council and Vale Royal Borough Council.
Actual
LBAP Implementers
RSPB; BTO; CAWOS; CWT; FWAG; Cheshire
County Council; PMH Natural History Services.
Other
potential implementers
BASC; CLA; SECOS.
Contact
Roy Leigh
Phone: 01606 333296
References
Cheshire and Wirral Ornithological
Society, Cheshire & Wirral Bird Reports
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the
Rio Challenge, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2:Action Plans,
London.
Perkins, A. (1996): Cheshire and Wirral Bird Audit, Cheshire wildlife Trust,
unpublished.
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (1994): Species Action Plan 0367:
Grey Partridge.
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