The game conservany trust 2008 practical guide conserving the grey partridge

Conserving the grey partridge

A practical guide produced by The Game Conservancy Trust

for farmers, landowners and local Biodiversity Action Plan Groups

www.gct.org.uk

Partridge Leaflet 6/4/2006 10:24 am Page 7

The decline of a common farmland bird

The grey partridge originated as a grassland bird on the open, largely treeless,steppe. It nests on the ground, hidden in thick grass, and after the eggs hatch thehen partridge takes her brood of chicks to forage among the tall grasses or cerealsfor caterpillars, beetles, plant bugs, and aphids. As they mature these chicks begin tofeed, like their parents, on young shoots and seeds.

Its steppe origin has allowed the partridge to adapt easily to cereal farmland.Thick vegetation at the base of a hedgerow makes an ideal nest site, and wheat andbarley crops provide perfect cover from predators while the young brood issearching for insects.

Cereal fields are the primary habitat for the greypartridge in Britain. Its future depends on farming.(David Mason)

A once flourishing gamebird

We can never know how many partridges existed in medieval England or earlierbut they were well distributed and in reasonable numbers. Farming was mixed andarable crops full of insects and weeds. Nevertheless predatory birds and mammalswere common and mortality to these must have been high1.

In the 19th century, numbers of partridge dramatically increased following theperiod of land enclosure - with the patchwork quilt landscape and quick-set hedgesthat we cherish today. After the agricultural revolution there was increased interestin managing game for sport and, by 1911, there were about 25,000 gamekeepersnationwide protecting gamebirds1.At this time we estimate from bag data that theremust have been more than a million pairs of grey partridges breeding in Britain1.

In the 1950s a sharp decline in partridge numbers followed the introduction ofherbicides into modern cereal-growing systems1,2,3.This was exacerbated by a lossof hedgerows and the employment of fewer gamekeepers. In the early 1990s therewere around 145,000 partridge pairs but on-going monitoring suggests thatnumbers have halved since then.

The decline in numbers of partridges shot highlightsthe dramatic drop during the 1950s and the verylow numbers at present. (Data from 12 English sporting estates from The Game Conservancy Trust’s NationalGamebag Census)

The life-cycle of the grey partridge. The main pairing and breeding seasons of the bird (orange) areshown in relation to the growth of cereals (green) and the shooting season (red).

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 20000

10

8

6

4

2

WW2WW1

Bag

per

100

hec

tare

s


A safe place to nest - plenty of tussocky grass

By the end of February most pairs have formed and, when the weather is dry, thepairs start prospecting for likely nest sites.They will pick their way around the basesof hedgerows assessing the ground vegetation and cover. Nest sites tend to be onfree-draining soil on a slope preferably facing south and with shelter from theprevailing wet weather4. Nests are a shallow scrape concealed in dense vegetationsuch as rank tussocky grass, herbaceous perennials and the crops themselves4.

DOS AND DON'TS FOR FARMERS

� Construct beetle banks* across large arable fields to increase the amountof nesting cover.

� Manage the grass beside hedgerows so that there is always old dead grassfrom the previous year available for nesting.

� Keep the hedge trimmed (preferably after the berry crop has finished) tounder six foot in height to avoid them being used as look-out posts byavian predators.

� Make judicious use of set-aside strips to create grassy nesting cover next tocereal crops and conservation headlands*.

� Don't plough up to the hedge line. Leave at least a one metre grass stripat the base of the hedge.

� Don't allow fertilisers or herbicides to drift onto the hedge or fence bank-they will damage vegetation used as nesting cover.

� Never spray out fence-rows with herbicides. Fence-rows are the onlynesting habitats left in many areas.

� Don’t allow livestock - especially sheep - to graze out and damage the baseof hedges when adjacent fields are in grass. Some light grazing every fewyears may be beneficial.

* Grant aid is available for these under some Agri-environment Schemes.

The profile of an ideal partridge nesting hedge - note the raised bank which provides sheltered well-drained nest sites hidden amongst dense ground cover.

A beetle bank is a raised ridge across the middleof an arable field and planted with tussock-forminggrasses like cock’s-foot. Designed primarily ashabitat for ground beetles, which help controlaphid numbers in the adjacent crop, they are alsogood gamebird nesting cover. (Stephen Tapper)

Good ground cover on the hedge bank is importantfor nesting partridges. It should be a mixture ofperennial herbs and tall tussock-forming grasses such ascock’s-foot.Trim down this vegetation to stop scrubinvading. Partridges need the old grass stems and deadleaves from the previous year for nest construction.

Cereal crop, preferably springsown, with the margin managed asa conservation headland to providean insect-rich foraging area forbroods in June.

A narrow cultivatedstrip stops weedinvasion from thehedge bank into thecrop and gives auseful drying outarea for chicks.

The hedge, not strictly essential for partridgenesting, does provide a wind break andhabitat for many other farmland birds. Don’ttrim too often, but allow the natural berrycrop to be eaten by wildlife over the winter.

The hedge is on awide bank which isperfect for partridges.It enables them to findwell-drained andsheltered nest sites.

Partridges are vulnerable during nesting time so, aswell as providing good nesting cover, their breedingsuccess will be improved if numbers of carrioncrows and magpies, which steal eggs, and foxes,which kill the sitting hen, are reduced. Properlyused, the Larsen trap is a legal and effective wayof dealing with crows and magpies in the springand summer. (Stephen Tapper)

Game Conservancy Limited’s AdvisoryService can help design appropriatepredation control strategies - see back page.


Chick survival - insect food is crucial

During the first few days after hatching, partridge chicks need to feed on insects inorder to grow and feather-up quickly. Without this protein-rich diet the chicksbecome stunted and die. Unfortunately insect numbers are much reduced in cerealcrops because herbicides and insecticides have broken the natural food chain.Agricultural pesticides rarely poison the birds directly.

Since the early 1980s The Game Conservancy Trust has developed techniquesto help put the insects back into cereal crops and increase chick survival in ways thatare compatible with modern agriculture5,6.

DOS AND DON’TS FOR FARMERS

� Use conservation headlands* along the edges of cereal crops. The keyfeatures are:-

Spring herbicides and summer insecticides are not applied oncereal crops along a six to 12 metre strip along the field margin.

Fungicides can be applied as normal.

Some selective autumn herbicides and grass weed-killers can beapplied to combat cleavers, black grass and other noxious weeds.

On heavy land nitrogen levels are best reduced.

� Plant set-aside strips with cereal mixtures (Wild Bird Cover Option) nextto nesting cover.

� Use set-aside allocations to their maximum effect around the farm,combine nesting cover (sown grass) with brood-rearing cover (cereal mix)within the same strips.

� Leave some bare soil between the hedge bank and the crops. It preventsweed infestation of the crop and provides a drying-out/dusting area forpartridge broods.

� Don’t apply summer insecticides to cereals unless there is no other choice.The deleterious effects of a large-scale application can last for severalyears. If treatment is necessary, use a selective product such as pirimicarb,or leave the outer 12 metres unsprayed.

* Grant aid is available for these under some Agri-environment Schemes.

The chick food chain. Weeds in cereal crops arethe food for caterpillars, beetles and bugs, whichpartridge chicks need for healthy growth.Herbicides and insecticides break this food chain.

Peter Thompson of The Game ConservancyTrust can give detailed agronomic adviceon managing conservation headlands.Telephone: 01425 652381

Sawfly larvae - green caterpillars - are the idealchick food and are most abundant in mid-Junewhen partridges hatch. (Nicholas Aebischer)

Peter Thompson inspecting a conservation headland. Annual weeds have been allowed to develop inthe crop edge to provide the food base for the insect fauna on which partridge chicks depend.(Stephen Tapper)


Surviving winter and spring - food and cover

Modern farmland is a hungry place for birds.The combine harvester leaves little spiltgrain for seed eaters and early cultivation for winter crops means the rest of thegrain, along with any weed seeds, is quickly buried. Further, many farms are nowspecialised arable enterprises and partridge coveys have lost the opportunity toshare food provided for livestock wintering outdoors. Nevertheless, the youngshoots of winter corn are themselves a source of food.

Much modern farmland is not only hungry, it is bare too. Partridges need somecover, not only as shelter from the worst of the winter rain and gales, but also tohide from predators.

This kale strip, in its first season, has been plantedunder the Wild Bird Cover Option of set-aside. Itmakes ideal cover for partridges in winter.(Stephen Tapper)

DOS AND DON’TS FOR FARMERS

� Plant seed-bearing game crops* such as kale or quinoa in open areaswhere partridges are likely to be and not close to woodland.

� Leave stubbles as long as possible before ploughing*. Stubbles following anundersown crop are particularly valuable because they remainuncultivated through the spring within the ley.

� Put out bird feeders designed for partridges in places where coveys like toover-winter. Place them near cover or create cover nearby using piles ofbrush.

� Use the Wild Bird Cover Option of set-aside with a kale-quinoa mixtureleft for two years. In winter and spring this provides food and protectionfrom predators.

� Don’t spray stubbles indiscriminately, but consider selective herbicides thatwill knock out noxious weeds while leaving the others as partridge food.

� Avoid planting new woodland in open areas suitable for grey partridges.

* Some grant aid may be available for these under some Agri-environment Schemes.

A partridge pair in a field of winter corn. Provided with food and cover partridges can withstand thecold - they survive very well, for example, on the Russian steppe and Canadian prairies wheretemperatures are extreme. The characteristic cross-barring on the scapula feathers of the hen can beseen on the bird in the foreground. (Chris Knights)

An old drum set up as a partridge feeder. Wholewheat is used as food and the partridges have toreach up and peck the grains out through a finemesh. The whole is suspended on wire to preventsmall rodents from gaining access. The feedershould be sited on open ground well away fromwoods and trees but near some ground cover suchas stubble or set-aside. (Dick Potts)


The grey partridge was in the first group of species to be given priority under theGovernment’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in 1995.The plan aims to stabilise greypartridge numbers by 2005 and ensure that the breeding population is above 150,000pairs by 2010. It recognises that the key to achieving this will be to shift the emphasisin agricultural subsidies and to improve Agri-environment Schemes.The plan doesnot propose the protection of special sites nor the protection of the species.

Our analysis at The Game Conservancy Trust (see map above) suggests that thetotal quantity of habitat available is easily sufficient to meet the BAP targets. Indeedwere partridges to be distributed at even modest densities across the existingfarmland there is adequate land available for over 500,000 pairs.

The Government is committed to improving the status of birds like the greypartridge and it is one of the 20 farmland species of bird being used as a “quality oflife” indicator.We expect part of this commitment to be shown through the additionof arable conservation options within the Countryside Stewardship scheme.

Measures taken to improve grey partridges will improve the numbers of otherspecies of farmland bird.

A Biodiversity Action Plan

SIGN UP TO HELP THE GREYS

As part of its role as lead partner ofthe grey partridge BiodiversityAction Plan,The Game ConservancyTrust is helping landowners conservetheir grey partridge stocks.The Trustguides farmers through the basics ofmanagement, putting the emphasison regular counts and calculations ofbreeding success. This monitoring isessential to judge the success ofhabitat improvement.

Contact:The Partridge Count Co-ordinator on01425 652381

Partridge habitat in Britain. The yellow is optimum habitat for grey partridges with a high proportion ofarable farmland. Green is less optimal ground where livestock rearing out-weighs arable farming inimportance. Grey areas are unsuited to grey partridges for a variety of reasons.(From CEH LandCover and OS Geographic Reference maps)

Counting grey partridges in late summer toassess breeding success. (Stephen Tapper)

“EVERY ONE COUNTS”


The grey partridge is no longer the prolific gamebird it once was. In most districtsit is now either absent or uncommon. In these circumstances partridges should notbe shot.The only exception is where careful management has produced a shootablesurplus. Some properties still produce these surpluses in good breeding years and,provided not more than 30% of the autumn population is shot, the harvest issustainable.

Unless carefully managed, the shooting of released red-legged partridges canhave a devastating effect on wild greys at a low density because of the risk of over-shooting. Precautions must be taken to avoid this.

Grey partridges and shooting

A wild partridge shoot on Salisbury Plain wherenumbers reached over 70 birds per 250 acres witheffective predation control7. (Stephen Tapper)

SIX GOLDEN RULES FOR GAME SHOOTERS

1 Do not shoot wild grey partridges if you have fewer than 20 birds per250 acres (100 hectares) in the autumn. Below this level the populationhas little ability to compensate for shooting losses.

2 Stop shooting wild grey partridges as soon as the threshold of 20 birdsper 250 acres (100 hectares) is reached, for the same reason.

3 Avoid shooting grey partridges after the end of December. Birds pair upin the new year and shooting at this time reduces the breeding stock.

4 Never shoot at grey partridges that are in pairs.

5 With driven redleg or pheasant shooting, take special precautions toensure that wild greys are not shot at the same time.

Warn the guns if grey partridges are likely to be on the drive.

Tell the guns to watch out for higher birds in tight coveys thatmight be greys.Tell them, if in doubt, not to shoot. Perhaps finethem if they shoot greys!

Arrange a system of whistles for beaters to warn guns that greyshave been flushed - their distinctive call also helps to identifythem. Have observers in the line of guns to do the same.

6 DO NOT SHOOT GREY PARTRIDGES AT ALL UNLESS YOU ALSOTAKE STEPS TO CONSERVE THEM.

Partridge management for shooting

Knowing the number of partridges on the ground is the minimum requirementfor shooting.

The autumn count is carried out immediately after harvest by driving acrossstubbles in the early morning or late evening and recording the size of all coveysencountered. Refinements are to age and sex the birds, and to count the pairsin spring.

Unmanaged land should hold an average 4.5 breeding pairs on 250 acres (100hectares). With annual losses of 55%, this implies that 20 birds per 250 acres arerequired in the autumn just to maintain numbers. At lower densities shootingshould not take place.

Restocking with grey partridges reared on a game farm almost always fails as ameans of restoring stocks. Most, if not all, are killed by predators within a few weeksof release. Essential components of conserving wild partridge stocks are habitatmanagement and legal predation control.

Redleg partridges like these have become popularto rear for shooting. Provided wild grey partridgesare not over-shot, redlegs will do no harm to thenative species. (David Mason)

Partridge Leaflet 10/4/2006 12:19 pm Page 5

This initiative issupported by theFarmland BirdSpecies ActionPlan SteeringGroup whichincludes, as wellas The GameConservancy Trust:

British Trust for OrnithologyCountryside Council for WalesDepartment for Environment, Food & Rural AffairsEnglish NatureJoint Nature Conservation CommitteeNorthern Ireland ExecutiveRoyal Society for the Protection of BirdsScottish ExecutiveScottish Natural HeritageSyngenta

FOUR COMMON QUESTIONS:

Q: If partridges are scarce why not protect them? A: It is a fact thatpartridges are most abundant in the places where they are conserved forshooting. This is not because shooters go to where they are mostcommon, but because on these places partridges are managed carefully sothat they breed and survive better than elsewhere, giving more partridgesbecause of, not despite, shooting.

Q: Sparrowhawks seem to be killing small birds of all kinds - are they toblame? A: Certainly where partridges are scarce and sparrowhawks are ingood numbers, predation by birds of prey could be a limiting factor andthis is the subject of current research. However, under the pre-1960straditional farming methods, both birds were common. Partridges declinedmost severely in the 1960s and 1970s, when sparrowhawks themselveswere almost wiped out by organo-chlorine pesticides.

Q: Surely what we want is more gamekeepers keeping foxes and crows incheck? A: Foxes and crows undoubtedly suppress partridge numbers andwe have proved that effective predation control by a gamekeeper caneasily treble a partridge population in a few years7. So, having moregamekeepers reducing foxes and crows will help. However, with adequatenesting and winter cover, as well as sympathetic farming systems whichimprove chick survival, a partridge stock should maintain itself, albeit at alow density, even in the presence of predators.

Q: Why can’t we solve the problem by releasing game farm birds?A: For two reasons. First, the partridge has declined primarily because arableland has become inhospitable through agricultural intensification, so restoringthe habitat should always be the priority. Second, hand-reared partridges donot behave naturally in the wild and are very vulnerable to predators. Eventhose that do survive usually fail to breed in subsequent years.

Common questions; References

Game Conservancy Limited’sAdvisory Service will giveprofessional advice on all aspects ofgame management including greypartridges.

For information contact:01425 651013

References:

1 Potts, GR (1986) The Partridge. Pesticides, Predation and Conservation.Collins, London. 274 pages.

2 Tapper, SC (1992) Game Heritage.The Game Conservancy Trust,Fordingbridge, Hampshire. 140 pages.

3 Potts, GR & Aebischer, NJ (1995) Population dynamics of the grey partridgePerdix perdix 1793-1993: monitoring, modelling and management.Ibis, 137, Supplement 1: 29-37.

4 Rands, MRW (1986) Effect of hedgerow characteristics on partridge breedingdensities. Journal of Applied Ecology, 23, 479-487.

5 Rands, MRW (1985) Pesticide use on cereals and the survival of greypartridge chicks: A field experiment. Journal of Applied Ecology, 22, 49-54.

6 Sotherton, NWS (1991) Conservation headlands: a practical combination ofintensive cereal farming and conservation. In: Ecology of Temperate CerealFields. Eds. LG Firbank, N Carter, JF Darbyshire, & GR Potts.Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 373-397.

7 Tapper, SC, Potts, GR, Brockless, M (1996) The effects of an experimentalreduction in predation pressure on the breeding success and populationdensity of grey partridges (Perdix perdix). Journal of Applied Ecology, 33, 965-78.

www.gct.org.ukRegistered Charity No. 1112023

Stephen TapperDepartment of Public AffairsThe Game Conservancy TrustFordingbridgeHampshire SP6 1EFTel: 01425 651021Email: [email protected]

© The Game Conservancy Trust Limited2001, revised 2004 and 2006.No reproduction without permission.All rights reserved.

Design & layout: Sophia MilesPrinting: Lookers Design PrintFront cover picture: David Mason


Fact sheet 6

Environmental Stewardship:Making the most for grey partridges

IntroductionThere are a wide range of options availablewithin the Entry Level Scheme (ELS) andthe Higher Level Scheme (HLS) to benefitthe grey partridge. When considering howto target these options to maximise thepotential for grey partridges on a givenarea of land, remember to think of theirneeds for the whole year. The three keythemes to provide are:

Nesting coverIdeally, grey partridges need long linearstrips or small patches of tussocky grassthat have not been cut in the previous year.Large areas of tussocky grass, however,are not suitable and should be avoided.Partridges will only use the edges of thebigger blocks of grass. The following optionscan be used to deliver suitable cover for

Nesting coverBrood-rearing coverWinter and early spring cover

If these three important factors can beprovided across the farm and coupledwith predator control during the breedingseason, there is no reason why greypartridges should not thrive.

grey partridges to nest in:• Buffer strip options: EE 1, EE2, EE3, EE4,

EE5, EE6• Field corner management: EF1, EK1• Beetle banks: EF7

These same options are also availableunder the HLS.

Why should youread this leaflet?This series of fact sheetsexplains how to restore wild greypartridges on your farm, basedon the results of our practicalresearch. Restoring these birds onfarmland will help us to achieveBiodiversity Action Plan targetsfor this and other BAP species,including other ground-nestingbirds and rare arable wildflowers.It will also allow you to achieve thebest out of your wild gamebirds.

ContactThe Game Conservancy TrustFordingbridgeHampshireSP6 1EF

Tel: 0142 5 652381Fax: 0142 5 655 848Email: [email protected]

www.gct.org.uk

No reproduction without permission. All rights reserved. © The Game Conservancy Trust Limited, February 2006

Page 2

Brood-rearing areasAn ideal area for partridge chicks to foragefor insects should consist of a sparseoverhead canopy – such as a thin cerealcrop, to protect from avian predators. Itshould have a scattering of broad-leavedweeds in the base of the mix, so thatinsects are attracted onto these weeds andare available for small chicks to gather.

The following options under ELS can bechosen to deliver good brood-rearing areas:

Winter/spring coverThere are two sorts of cover – the typethat just acts as cover and the type thatsupplies a food source as well. Cover onlyoptions are:• Buffer strips: EE 1, EE2, EE3, EE4, EE5, EE6• Field corner management: EF1• Beetle banks: EF7

Ideally, cover should also provide foodduring the winter and spring time. Theoptions that offer food are:• Wild bird seed mix: EF2• Wild bird seed mix on set-aside: EF3• Wild bird seed mix in grassland: EG2• Brassica fodder crops: EG5• Over-winter stubbles: EF6• Cultivated margins: EF11 (only if they

are left uncultivated until the spring)

The HLS includes all of the above andoffers further chances to deliver food andcover for grey partridges. The followingsupply both cover and food, although withfodder crops it depends to some extent,

• Conservation headlands: EF9, EF10• Undersown spring cereals: EG 1

The wild bird seed mix, EG2, EF2, EF3may also be used at six metres wide andplanted with a mixture such as cereal,li nseed and mustard. When choosing thisoption do not fertilise, and use a low seedrate so that the area does not becometoo thick. Chicks need to be able to move

on how much weed has grown withinthe crop:• Enhanced wild bird seed mix: HF12• Unharvested conservation headlands:

HF14• Reduced herbicide in cereals preceding

over-wintered stubble: HF15, HF18• Fodder crops: HG6

Where possible, choose some mixturesfor the wild bird seed option that includekale so that the crop can last for twoyears. This will mean that the second yearkale will provide important cover for greypartridges in early spring when they breakup from their coveys, because this is a timewhen they are particularly vulnerable topredation. If all your wild bird seed mixesare annual crops, the cover is all removedto be replanted at just the wrong time.

Set-aside: Remember that you still have set-aside land that can be used to benefit greypartridges, not only by using the wild bird

around in the crop and they will struggle ifit is too thick at the base. This latter optioncan be left over-winter to supply food andcover for partridges and can be renewedin the spring each year.

The HLS offers further options overand above ELS, and they are as follows:• Reduced herbicide in cereal crops:

HF15, HF18• Low input option in spring cereals: HG7

cover option within set-aside but also thereare some options under the ELS and HLSthat can be carried out on set-aside land:• EF3 – wild bird seed mix on set-aside

land – remember that set-aside can bedropped to six metres when positionednext to an environmental feature, suchas a hedge or beetle bank, so this optioncould be used for brood-rearing cover

• HLS offers reduced herbicide in cerealspreceding set-aside: HF18

• Unharvested conservation headlandspreceding set-aside: HF19

Grey partridge habitat requirements forall seasons are now catered for in thesenew environmental schemes, so makegood use of them and help this gloriousbird become a common sight once againon our farmland.

A goodexample of2nd year

kale grownalongsidebrood-rearing

cover

More informationThe Advisory Services of GameConservancy Limited can providefurther advice on feeding systems forgamebirds, and on all aspects of gamemanagement. For information, pleasecontact Lynda Ferguson on01425 651013.

Fact sheet kindly sponsored by

Late winter and spring feedingof pheasants and partridges

Why feed gamebirds after the shooting season?The leanest time for gamebirds are the latewinter and early spring months. By Januarymost of the harvest-spilt grain and weedseeds have been gleaned by birds andsmall mammals, leaving only green shootsand leaves for gamebirds to feed on.

Once the shooting season finishes, feedhoppers are often allowed to run out,leaving gamebirds, which have been usedto being well fed, with a potential shortageof food. Table 1 below shows the resultsof dissections of several hundred crops ofwild grey partridges in the 1930s. It clearlyshows how little grain and weed seeds areleft by late winter and this was at a timewhen agriculture was far less efficient thanit is today.

When looking at this table it should benoted that one gram of wheat provides thedry weight food value of 24 pecks of greenleaves! Getting enough food quickly enablesgamebirds to maintain condition, to havemore time to watch out for predators and,because they are in good condition, reactto a potential attack faster.

Research has shown that gamebirdslose weight and condition during theselean months so that come the breedingseason in April and May, when hen birdshave to produce and incubate eggs, and

when this causes them to lose weightnaturally, many are simply not in goodenough condition to breed successfully.

The Game Conservancy Trust hasshown in extensive feeding trials that whenpheasants are fed wheat in their breedingterritories, the density of territorial cocksand hens can increase by up to 50%. Fedhens can maintain body conditionthroughout the nesting period and, if theylose a nest, are much more likely to re-nestcompared with unfed birds. On average,around 85% more chicks are produced tofledging when spring feeding is employed.

In the Aisne region of northern France,Jacques Hicter has developed andsuccessfully put into practice a feedingsystem for wild grey partridges. He hasmanaged to achieve spring populations of80 pairs per 100 hectares and, perhapseven more encouragingly, has inspired up to50 other land managers to follow his lead.

There are some differences betweenfeeding partridges and pheasants so thisfact sheet has dealt with each separately.However, both partridges and pheasantsoften feed from the same hopper, asindeed do many small birds such asyellowhammers and corn buntings.

Why should youread this leaflet?This fact sheet explains the needfor feeding gamebirds into thespring and suggests ways, based onon the results of practicalresearch, of achieving the best outof your wild game populations.Feeding grey partridges could alsohelp restore populations onfarmland and help us to achieveBiodiversity Action Plan targets forthis species.


Tel: 0142 5 652381Fax: 0142 5 651026Email: [email protected]

www.gct.org.uk

Table 1Crop contents of wild grey partridges in the 1930s - % volume

Food Sept Oct-Nov Dec-Feb Mar-May June-Aug Mean % for year

Grass, clover & leaves 9.9 26.5 68.0 92.2 14.3 42.2Flowers & buds 0.9 0.2 0.0 6.0 28.7 7.2Roots (sugar beet, etc) 0.4 16.4 13.3 0.5 0.0 6.1Seeds (grasses & weeds) 1 1.9 34.5 17.8 1.2 38.5 20.8Grain (wheat, barley, oats & buckwheat 76.3 22.4 0.7 0.1 6.5 21.2Animal food (mainly insects) 0.6 0.04 0.0 0.02 11.8 2.5

No reproduction without permission. All rights reserved. © The Game Conservancy Trust, January 2004

Page 2

Feeding pheasantsAfter the shooting season, identify goodnesting areas.These are usually shrubby,scrubby areas beside woodland edges orrides within woods; also by hedges, withtussocky grass margins and field corners.Place feed hoppers beside them. Latewinter/spring feeding areas may bedifferent from the winter feeding sites asthe latter may be unsuitable for nesting.Hoppers should be spaced at intervals, 50to 75 metres apart. Many small hoppers

Feeding grey partridgesHoppers for grey partridges should be putout well before the coveys split up (oftenin December in mild winters).They shouldbe placed near suitable nest sites such astussocky grass margins, either on their ownor next to a fence, wall or hedge. Divisionsbetween crops and beetle banks are alsogood places.

Put out at least one feeder per pair thatyou expect to see. If in doubt, place onewhere you see partridges regularly or whereyou thought they may have nested previously.

It is also advisable to put out extrahoppers, as they may attract pairs into yourarea. Research shows that hoppers help to‘fix’ pairs of grey partridges and there is astrong link between hopper position andnest site, usually within 20 metres.

The hopper itself should be between20-40 litres in size and set at a height ofaround 20-25 centimetres (8”-9”) from theground.Wheat is the ideal grain to fill themwith. As with pheasants, wheat is currentlyour recommended feed until we testalternatives. French keepers often coverthem with fir branches, which may offersome protection from predators. It is alsohelpful in finding the hopper again once the

are better than few large ones, as theyencourage birds to spread out, which stopsdominant cocks from keeping large feedhoppers to themselves.

The type of hopper to choose will varydepending on your preference, but isusually 25-50 litres capacity with slits in thebase or a spiral attachment. Pheasants useeither style, although non-game speciessuch as rats and squirrels can access grainmore easily from the spiral system.The

crop has grown up around it – hoppersand fir branches are not ideal materials forthe combine!

Many keepers, including The GameConservancy Trust’s Malcolm Brockless,have designed their own cage-like structurearound the hopper (see picture).Thisseems to help keep raptor predation to aminimum. Crows and jackdaws cansometimes take a lot of grain fromhoppers, but weldmesh structures help tostop many of them as well – they are toosuspicious to enter. It doesn’t, however,seem to stop partridges once they havebecome accustomed to it. Mesh (size20x20cm or 8”x8”) keeps both deer andbadgers at bay - both can be extremelydestructive. If the structure is alsosupporting the hopper (as in the picture) itcan easily be moved to keep the groundbeneath it ‘clean’.

Each time the hopper is moved any ratholes can be baited to reduce their numbers.

Hoppers should be kept full until theend of May and then slowly allowed to runout. However, in France a year-round hoppersystem is employed and feeders can be seenout on the stubbles even after harvest.

height of the hopper should be set 40-45centimetres (16”-18”) from the ground.

We consider wheat to be the bestgrain with which to fill hoppers, as trialshave shown that pheasants prefer it toother cereals. However, we have yet to testother supplemental feeds.

Ideally the hoppers should be checkedand filled regularly and not allowed to runout until at least mid-June.

More informationThe Advisory Services of GameConservancy Limited can providefurther advice on feeding systems forgamebirds, and on all aspects of gamemanagement. For information, pleasecontact Liz Scott on 01425 651013.

Rat control at feed hoppers

Follow runs from hoppers back to the holes where rats are living. Anticoagulant ratpoisons can be used. As meal-based poisons spoil easily, it may be easier to use wax blockbaits.These should be pushed down the holes, which should then be sealed. Check dailyfor holes being re-opened, and top up and re-seal as appropriate. Also, check the local areafor dead rats.These, and bait remains, should be cleared up and burnt or buried deeply tominimise the risk of secondary poisoning.

ID guide

Spring

How to identify grey partridgesThis guide explains how to sex and agegrey partridges. To gain experience, practicesexing birds throughout the year beforeyou need to count them.

When determining sex and age, try tolook at the full body with a clear view ofthe head and neck. In the field this is oftennot possible as birds are commonly found

in cover. Therefore the identification can takeplace by concentrating on head features.

Common featuresCharacteristically grey partridges arerotund birds with streaked grey-brownupperparts, grey underparts, chestnutflank bars and rusty tail. Both sexes have

an orange-brown face and a more or lesswell marked dark brown horseshoe onthe belly. From a distance the sexes appearsi milar to each other, but several featuresthat can separate males and females arelisted below.

Head details

MaleThe cock bird’s head will generally appear brighter owing to its bold orange-brown face and red wattle below and behind the eye(spring). The orange-brown area extends further onto the neck than in female birds.

Autumn Spring

FemaleThe hen bird’s head will generally appear lighter owing to a pale, whitish strip of feathers edging the orange/brown face, the colour ofwhich is often less intense than in the male. The pale edging is most prominent across the forehead, around the eyes and around the sidesof the face. The neck and upper breast will also appear browner in the females.

Male OSingle cream streak along shaft

FemaleTransversal stripes ‘Cross of Lorraine’

BodyMale (top)From the side the male facial patternappears more defined than in the femaleor juvenile bird.

A male bird may also readily adoptan alert posture as opposed to thecrouching hen.

Female (bottom)The paler head and browner neck makethe females appear less contrasting.

As many females have horseshoemarkings on the belly, this is not a reliablemethod of sexing birds.

Shoulder feathersA further method of sexing grey partridges arises from one or more light transversal the feather shaft. Although the techniqueis to examine the shoulder feathers and stripes present only on the female. The is accurate it is usually useful only whenlook for the ‘Cross of Lorraine’. This feature male has a single cream streak overlying observing birds at close range.

Juveniles (autumn only)

Other considerationsWhen examining coveys in the autumnit is important to identify all birds in acovey and not to automatically assumethere is one male, one female and the restare young! Single adults or barren pairscommonly attach themselves to othercoveys or group together to form an‘adult covey’.

Sexing and aging is a task which takestime and patience to learn. It is therefore

Juvenile birds can be identified up tothe age of 12 weeks, by which time thetransition to adult plumage is largelycomplete. In full juvenile plumage, the head,back and under-parts are largely buff orbeige, with an obvious size difference inyoung birds.

The birds also display a darker beakand yellowish legs. As the juvenile moult

essential that opportunities are taken topractise whenever possible. Keep a pair ofbinoculars handy when driving or walkingas this may provide opportunities topractise if you come across partridges. Ourwebsite will also be hosting a selectionof videos and still pictures to test youridentification skills. (Details in futurePartridge Count Scheme newsletters.)

progresses, the head and upper neck areoften the last parts of the body to retainthe buff-beige colour. In poor light, it is notalways easy to distinguish them from paleheaded adult females.

The Game & Wildlife

Conservation Trust

For over 75 years our scientists havebeen researching why species like thegrey partridge, water vole, corn buntingand black grouse have declined. We arecontinually developing practical measuresto reverse these declines.

Our aim is simple - a thriving countrysiderich in game and other wildlife.

We are an independent charity relianton voluntary donations and the supportof people who care about the survival ofour natural heritage.

No reproduction without permission. Al rights reserved. © Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, 2007 (formerly The Game Conservancy Trust). Registered charity no. 1112023.

71Review of 2006

40, Julie Ewald compares how insects have been affected by pesticides use in Sussex and at Loddington.

The National Gamebag Census is another long-running project. Analysis of its bag data shows some fascinating trends in mammals and birds. In this Review, we report on waterfowl (see page 78) and brown hare (see page 82).

Partridge and biometrics research in 2006

Project title Description Staff Funding source Date

Grey partridge recovery Restoration of grey partridge numbers: Malcolm Brockless, Tom Birkett, GC-USA, Research Funding 2001-2008project (see page 74) a demonstration project Stephen Browne, Roger Draycott, Appeal, Core funds Julie Ewald, Nicholas Aebischer, Kate Driver

Partridge Count Scheme Nationwide monitoring of grey and red- Neville Kingdon, Core funds 1933 - on-going(see page 72) legged partridge abundance and breeding Nicholas Aebischer, Julie Ewald, success Nina Graham, Dave Parish

Partridge releasing Determining best release methods as a tool Nicholas Aebischer, Francis Westminster Overseas 2004-2007experiment (see page 76) for restoring grey partridges in the UK Buner, Stephen Browne, Fellowship, GC-USA, Des Purdy Payne-Gallwey Charitable Trust

National Gamebag Monitoring game numbers with annual bag Nicholas Aebischer, Core funds 1961 - on-goingCensus (see page 78) records Gillian Gooderham, Peter Davey, Julie Ewald, Nina Graham

Trends in mammal Analysing mammalian cull data from the Nicholas Aebischer, Jonathan JNCC 2003-2010bags (see page 82) National Gamebag Census under the Reynolds, Gillian Gooderham Tracking Mammals Partnership

Trends in bird bags Developing a tool for improving hunting bag Nicholas Aebischer, Peter Davey Defra, SEERAD 2006-2007 data of huntable and ‘pest’ bird species (with BASC)

Sussex study Long-term monitoring of partridges, weeds, Julie Ewald, Nicholas Aebischer, Core funds 1968 - on-going invertebrates, pesticides and land use on Steve Moreby, 62 square kilometres of the South Downs Dick Potts (consultant)

Impact of pesticides Developing an indicator of the impact of Nicholas Aebischer, Julie PSD, Environment 2005-2006(see page 40) pesticides on farmland wildlife Ewald, Nina Graham Agency, English Nature

Monitoring East Lothian Monitoring effects of LBAP measures on bird David Parish, Various charitable trusts 2001 - on-goingLocal BAP populations in East Lothian Hugo Straker

Unharvested crops and Large-scale field experiment investigating David Parish SEERAD 2004-2008songbird populations the impact of winter feeding on songbird populations

Monitoring SEERAD’s Camparing biodiversity on in- and out- David Parish SEERAD 2004-2008agri-environment schemes scheme farms across Scotland Non-GCT collaborators

Management of grasslands Studies of granivorous birds in intensive Dave Parish (with SAC and SNH, Core funds 2006-2009for game and wildlife agricultural grasslands of SW Scotland Glasgow University)

The genetics of the Comparison of partridge genetics for Dave Parish (with LandCatch LandCatch Natural 2005-2006grey partridge populations from different regions of England Natural Selection) Selection

PhD: Released partridges Comparing flora and fauna on high density Sarah Callegari English Nature 2002-2006on NNR chalk grassland partridge release sites on chalk downland (Supervisors: Rufus Sage; Research Funding Appeal NNR with similar chalk downs Graham Holloway/Reading Univ)

PhD: Oxfordshire Quantifying the fate of released grey Elina Rantanen Private individual, 2006-2008partridges partridges in Oxfordshire (Supervisors: Francis Buner; Core funds, various Prof D McDonald/Oxford Univ) charitable trusts

PhD: Bobwhite quail Investigating the ecology of bobwhite David Butler Tall Timbers Research 2005-2007(see page 62) quail chicks (Supervisors: Rufus Sage; Station John Carroll/Georgia Univ Simon Dowell/John Moore Univ, Liverpool)

Key to abbreviations: BASC = British Association for Shooting & Conservation; Defra = Department for Evironment, Farming and Rural Affairs; JNCC = Joint Nature Conservation Committee; PSD = Pesticides Safety Directorate; SEERAD = Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department; SNH = Scottish Natural Heritage.

Chick food favourites

The chicks of farmland birds need to grow quickly, and to help them they need a rich source of protein. So it isno coincidence that chick hatching is timed to coincide with the spring and summer flush of protein-rich insects.

These are the top eight insects for farmland chicks.

Bugs (Heteroptera)D 2-10mm. Bugs feed on plants and insects, and are equipped

with a long piercing mouthpart called a rostrum to suckjuices through. Juveniles look like small adults, but without wings.

P Found in late spring to early autumn. Many over-winter inhedgerows and on grasses, often as eggs.

Hoppers (Homoptera)2-6mm. Hoppers also have a rostrum (see bugs). Aphidsand species that produce cuckoo spit to protect their youngare all part of this group.

D Hoppers over-winter in hedgerows as eggs, emerging in latespring as wingless nymphs. Adults found in summer.

Caterpillars (Lepidoptera)D Larvae of moths and butterflies.They have small heads, three

pairs of front legs and five pairs of stumpy hind legs.ID The larvae are found in the summer with the pupae

over-wintering in soil or hedgerows.

Sawfly larvae (Symphyta)Look like caterpillars, but have more pairs of hind legs and aprominent head capsule with obvious black eyes.Frequent grasses/cereals, broad-leaved weeds and hedgerows.Adults emerge in April, larvae on plants in May and June. InJuly they pupate and over-winter in the soil.

Roger Key

Ground beetles (Carabidae)2-25mm. A large family of beetles (350 British species),mostly carnivorous, helping to control pests such as aphids.Frequent open ground in fields and margins.Found throughout the year, but mostly from spring toautumn.They over-winter as larvae underground and asadults in tussocky grasses and hedge bottoms.

Click beetles (Elateridae)D 4-12mm. Long, dark coloured beetles. They have a joint

between the abdomen and thorax that enables them tothrow themselves backwards out of danger with a loud ‘click’.

0 Frequent flowering plants, particularly umbellifers andgrasses, as they are pollen and plant feeders.

9 Found from May to June when pollen and nectar are plentiful.Over-winter as larvae in the soil.

Weevils (Curculionidae)D 1.5-10mm. Also known as snout beetles as they have short

and broad, or long and narrow snouts from which theirelbowed antennae protrude.

D They are mainly plant feeders, including some pest species,but are also found in fields and hedgerows.

D Found from spring to autumn. Over-winter as larvae eitherin soil or inside their food plant.

More information: Birds prefer the above insects but alsoeat a wide-range of other species including young grasshop-pers, spiders, flies, especially the slow moving crane flies, andother beetles.How you can help: All these insects need good habitat,and we recommend conservation headlands, beetle banks,grass margins, undersowing options and wild flower strips.All of these options can be funded by the Entry Level andHigher Level Stewardship Schemes.

For more information on these insects visitwww.gct.org.uk and www.buglife.org.uk

Leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae)0 1.5-10mm. Often shiny and brightly coloured, rounded in

shape with chunky legs.0 Frequent hedgerow plants, weeds and crops. Some are pest

species, for example, flea beetles on brassicas.P Found from spring to autumn. Over-winter as pupae at the

base of plants in grassland, hedgerows and beetle banks.

Contact detailsThe Game Conservancy Trust,Fordingbridge,Hampshire, SP6 1EF.Tel: 0142 5 652381www.gct.org.uk

Registered Charity No: 1112023.© The Game Conservancy Trust Limited, May 2006.No reproduction without permission.All rights reserved.

Figure 1

The effect of

dead grass on the

probability of arandom site being

selected for nesting,

and on the probability

of a clutch avoidingpredation.

1 2 3 4

Amount of dead grass in nesting cover, ranked

brood hatching

site being selected

Fact sheet 2

Providing nesting cover forwild grey partridges

IntroductionGrey partridges form pairs in late winterfollowing the break-up of their wintercovey. Pair formation usually depends onthe weather and during cold weatherin late winter a ‘covey’ can reform for ashort while. In some years, pairs form asearly as mid-January. The birds are alwaysmonogamous and in the spring the henseeks out suitable cover in which to nest.

The nest is made on the ground andis usually a scrape lined with grasses. Suchscrapes can be found before the end ofMarch. The first eggs are laid a few weekslater. The incubation of first clutches canbegin as early as the end of April, although

mid-May is usual for most hens. Hens laybetween 10 and 20 eggs (average 15 eggsper clutch) at one to two-day intervals. Noother wild bird lays more eggs than a greypartridge! Incubation takes 23-25 daysand the chicks leave the nest within hoursof hatching.

The hen is on her nest for between 38and 55 days, at this time she is vulnerableto a range of predators and to the nestbeing flooded during heavy rain. The choiceof a good nest site is vital if she is to survivethis crucial period and hatch off her chicks.

Why should youread this leaflet?This fact sheet explains the needfor providing nesting cover forwild grey partridges, based onthe results of practical research,to achieve the best out of yourwild game. By creating nestingcover you could help restore gamenumbers on farmland and help usto achieve Biodiversity Action Plantargets for this and other ground-nesting BAP species.

What do grey partridge hens look for?Hens nest in thick grassy cover, typicallyfound at the base of a field boundary(hedgerow, fence line, etc), on low banks orin the crops themselves, particularly whensuitable non-crop sites are not available.Research has shown that the two crucialelements of a successful nest site are theamount of residual dead grass present andthe height of the nest above the general

field level. In wet weather, nests on banksdrain more freely and are less likely tobecome water-logged. Water-logged nestsare abandoned and the eggs chill quicklyand die. Many nest sites are thereforeon south-facing slopes or banks, on free-draining soils sheltered from the prevailingwet weather. Research has shown that siteson a bank and surrounded by dead grass

are more likely to be selected for nesting,and that the nests are less likely to bepredated and more likely to hatch a broodthan sites or nests on level ground (Figure1). Hedges with more than 10 trees perkilometre of hedge are avoided becausethey contain too many look-out posts forbirds of prey, crows and magpies.



www.gct.org.uk

No reproduction without permission. All rights reserved. © The Game Conservancy Trust, June 2005


Page 2

Creating nest cover for grey partridgesIf you still have strips of perennial grassycover at the edges of fields (up totwo metres wide ideally), please lookafter them. This can be done by regularmaintenance and following the advicebelow on dos and don’ts, many of whichare part of cross-compliance.

Avoid regular annual cutting of grassymargins to allow the correct grass structureto develop. Rotational trimming every twoor three years may be necessary to avoidscrub encroachment, especially if blackthornis present, but always leave some marginsuncut in any given year across the farm.

Strive to maintain the competitive,perennial, non-invasive grasses eg. cock’s-foot, and keep out the weeds such ascleavers and barren brome.

Do• Keep all agrochemicals in the field.• Fence livestock out of hedge bottoms.• Keep the plough at least one metre

away from the edge of the hedge.• Create a hedge cutting plan.

Don’t• Spray herbicides into hedge bottoms.• Let herbicides drift into hedge bottoms.• Misplace fertiliser so it is dumped into

hedge bottoms.• Plough so close to the hedge that the

grass strip disappears.• Let livestock graze hedge bottoms.• Cut the hedge so it grows out and

shades out the grassy bottom.• Cut the perennial grassy cover at the

base of your margins every year.

If you have lost these grassy strips and youwant them back, consider the following:• Sow them (at least one metre wide)

next to field boundaries and short thickhedgerows.

• Use a high proportion of tussockyperennial grasses, such as cock's-foot.

• Newly sown strips should be cut up tothree times in year one to discourageweeds, but thereafter only every threeyears to allow the tussocks to form.

These grassy strips can be created as eithertwo, four or six metre strips under EntryLevel Stewardship (ELS) and Higher Level

Stewardship (HLS) in England, and theRural Stewardship Scheme (RSS) and theLand Management Contracts (LMCs) inScotland. For specific advice, please consultyour local GC advisor (see details below).

Beetle banks. These are raised grassstrips sown across (not around) arablefields. Raise up a bank across the centreof large fields (more than 16 hectares) byploughing in a furrow from each directionand sow it with a perennial tussocky grassmixture. Do not connect the beetle bankto the existing field boundaries at eitherend because this will encourage predatorsto patrol along the edge of your beetlebank. Establishing and managing beetlebanks is the same as for a grass margin. Asbeetle banks, these strips are grant-aidedunder both ELS and HLS in England, andLMCs and RSS in Scotland.

Nesting cover on set-aside. Manageyour set-aside to create nesting cover.Fields in permanent set-aside can bemanaged to create good nesting habitat forgrey partridges by leaving part of the fielduncut. Remember that 25% of any set-asidefield can be left uncut without a derogation.Ideally, leave a linear strip around the fieldrather than one large block of uncut grass.Permanent set-aside strips can now bereduced to six metres in width next toa water course or hedgerow (10 metresnext to other boundaries). If these areplanted with grass they can become idealhabitats for nesting. Once again, always tryto leave up to 25% uncut in any given yearto allow tussocks to form. A minimum of20-metre wide permanent set-aside stripscan also be established across the centresof large fields. These can include tussockygrass mixtures for nesting and could alsohave both brood-rearing cover and wintercover established alongside using thewild bird cover option. These in-field set-aside areas are greatly favoured by greypartridges throughout the year.

How much nesting cover is needed?To stabilise the population of wild greypartridges (ie. to achieve the first BAPtarget of halting the decline) withoutpredator control, you will need 4.3

kilometres of nesting cover per squarekilometre of farm (seven miles/square mileor four miles/1,000 acres).

To recover the population to the 2010BAP target (150,000 pairs in the UK)without predator control, you will need6.9 kilometres of nesting cover per squarekilometre of farm (11 miles/square mileor seven miles/1,000 acres) to achieve thistarget. You also need 5% of your arable areato be managed as insect-rich brood-rearinghabitat (conservation headlands, wild birdseed mixes, wild bird cover on set-aside,etc (see Fact sheet 3)). Remember totry and site your nesting cover close tosome insect-rich brood-rearing cover tomaximise the benefits of both.


Fact sheet 3

Providing brood-rearing coverfor wild grey partridges

IntroductionOnce hatched, partridge chicks walk awayfrom their nests following their parentsin search of food. They are not fed at thenest like skylark or blackbird chicks. At thisstage the parents lead their chicks intobrood-rearing covers such as cereal fields,waste ground and unimproved pasturesthat provide both food and shelter frompredators. Chicks need to feed on insects(perhaps 2,000 each per day) to grow andfeather up quickly. Without this protein-rich diet in the first two to three weeksof life, chicks fail to grow and thrive. Theybecome much more susceptible to coldwet weather and can quickly die.

Insects are a vital part of a chick’sdiet in the first two weeks of life. Chicksreared artificially grow and feather morequickly when insects are added to a dietof plant matter. In the wild, chicks show aclear preference for sawfly larvae (whichfeed on cereal and grass leaves), mothlarvae (which feed on grasses and weeds),larger bugs, weevils, leaf-beetles, smallground beetles and cereal aphids. Theydo not take insects that are very small

(eg. thrips), very large (eg. larger groundbeetles), swift-flying insects or those foundbelow the soil surface.

Chicks begin to hatch in early June, butthe peak hatch date is in the third week ofJune, usually coinciding with Royal Ascot.

Historically, thinner weedier cerealcrops made up such brood cover andsupported large broods. Unfortunatelyinsect numbers have fallen because bothinsecticides and herbicides have broken thefood chain and modern intensive crops arethick, weed-free and contain few insects.

Food chain

Why should youread this leaflet?This series of fact sheetsexplains how to restore wild greypartridges on your farm, basedon the results of our practicalresearch. Restoring these birds onfarmland will help us to achieveBiodiversity Action Plan targetsfor this and other BAP species,including other ground nestingbirds and rare arable wildflowers.It will also allow you to achieve thebest out of your wild gamebirds.

What makes good brood-rearing cover?Above all, brood-rearing cover needs tobe full of slow-moving, soft-bodied insectsto feed young chicks. However, otherattributes of brood cover are also needed.Some insect-rich covers are ignored if theirstructure is not correct.

Brood habitats need to provide cover,a protective canopy of tall vegetation intowhich broods can be taken safely, awayfrom prying, predatory eyes. The covershould not be too thick or too dense atthe base because tiny chicks need to be

able to move through it easily. If the cover istoo thick at the base this does not happenand, after rainy weather, the vegetation stayswetter for longer. This can be a problem forsmall chicks that can quickly chill and die.Remember that brood cover needs to besited close to the nesting cover becauseyoung chicks, although active, do not movefar in the first few days after hatching.

So, brood cover needs to be insect-rich, within a protective canopy of tallervegetation, that is not too thick at the base.



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Page 2

How to create brood-rearing cover on the farm1. Use conservation headlands along the

edges of cereal crops.The key features are:• Some herbicides and summer

insecticides are not applied on cerealcrops along a six to 24-metre stripalong the field margin.

• Fungicides can be applied as normal.• Some selective herbicides and grass

weed-killers can be applied tocombat cleavers, black-grass and othernoxious weeds.

• On heavy land reduce nitrogen levels.

2. Using the new EnvironmentalStewardship Schemes (ESS).

Brood-rearing cover can be created underthe new ESS in England, and the LandManagement Contracts (LMCs) and RuralStewardship Scheme (RSS) in Scotland. Itshould be based on a cereal with two othercrop types added, probably linseed andmustard. These mixes can be planted fromsix-metres wide, up to half a hectare in size.A six-metre wide strip of brood-rearingcover placed next to good nesting cover, willenable newly-hatched chicks easy access toa rich foraging area. The low input optionis a particularly good one for brood cover.Brood-rearing crops are usually planted inMarch so that they are well established byJune. The crop can then be left to over-winter and this will provide an extra foodsource. However, under the new rules thisoption is limited to half a hectare in every20 hectares of land.

3. Cover crops on set-aside.Brood-rearing cover can also be grownon set-aside under the wild bird cover

option following set-aside guidelines. Amixture of two crop types, which couldinclude a cereal and a brassica, can beplanted. To work well, the cereal needs topredominate. The payment received willbe substantially reduced from the rates inthe ESS, but there is no limit to the size ofarea planted.

4. Summer insecticides.Don’t apply summer insecticides tocereals unless there is no other choice.The deleterious effects of a large-scaleapplication can last for several years. Iftreatment is necessary, use a selectiveproduct such as pirimicarb, and leave theouter 12 metres unsprayed.

5. Grassland areas.In grassland areas, grey partridges wouldbenefit from the introduction of any formof arable cropping, to provide insectsand brood cover. Grey partridges areoften found on unimproved and semi-improved pastures that provide a greaterdiversity and abundance of invertebrates.Such grasslands should be managed tomaintain this interest. Even on improvedgrass, allowing the margin to grow andseed without grazing or cutting maycreate nesting and feeding habitats. Thediversity of plants and invertebrates will beimproved by not fertilising or re-seedingthese margins. Cutting or grazing betweenSeptember and February will prevent theencroachment of the hedge. This shouldbe undertaken on a rotational basis onceevery two or three years to allow atussocky margin to develop.

How much brood-rearing cover isneeded? To stabilise the population ofwild grey partridges (ie. to achieve the firstBAP target of halting the decline) withoutpredator control, 3% of the arable areaneeds to be insect-rich brood-rearinghabitat (conservation headland, wild birdcover, ESS type cover).

To recover the population to thesecond BAP target (150,000 pairs in theUK) without predator control, brood-rearing cover would need to be 5% ofthe arable area. You will also need 6.9kilometres of nesting cover per 100hectares of farm (11 miles/square mile orseven miles/1,000 acres) to achieve thistarget (see Fact sheet 2).

The effect of the weather. In generalterms, insect numbers in crops aredetermined by the weather in April andMay. A cold, wet spring leads to fewerinsects. In such years, insect-rich broodcover becomes all the more valuable.

Cold, wet weather after hatching alsoleads to lower levels of chick survivaland small brood sizes. Again, insect-richbrood covers can mean that when theweather improves, a plentiful supply offood is readily available and the effectsof bad weather on chick survival can beminimised. We cannot control for poorBritish summer weather, but we can providechicks with the best chances of survival byproviding abundant food in easy reach.

Good brood-rearing

cover for grey

partridges


Fact sheet 4

Providing winter cover andfood for wild grey partridges

IntroductionFor birds like the grey partridge, farmlandin most parts of the UK is not the habitatthat it used to be. The patchwork of smallweedy fields on farms with a diverse rangeof crops has been replaced by intensivelymanaged large blocks of single crops. Today,farmland can be a hungry place for birds,especially in winter. Fewer spring crops(and therefore autumn stubbles), efficientweed control practices (both chemicaland cultural), more efficient combinesand food safety regulations governingthe cleanliness of grain stores, have allreduced the amount of winter food (weed

seeds and spilt grain) in the countryside.Grey partridges have evolved to dealeffectively with cold weather but they donot cope well if food is not abundant. So,the manager seeking to increase numbersof grey partridge, must make provisionto provide food right through the winterand to provide shelter from the worst ofthe winter rain and gales. Increasingly, theimportance of winter predation meansthat a place to hide from winged predatorsis also important, especially in February andMarch when cover left over from winter isoften ploughed up.


What makes good winter cover?Good cover needs to be sufficiently highby the start of the winter weather (30 cm),it must stand throughout the season andnot succumb to the first frost and flop over.It must be food rich, producing a steadysurplus of small nutritious seeds all winter(it’s no good if they run out in Novemberif February/March are the really hungrymonths). The food must also be readilyaccessible. Many a partridge has got neck-

ache staring up at sunflower seeds beingeaten by the finches.

Winter cover works best in relativelysmall parcels scattered around the farmrather than one or two large pieces. Greypartridges have territories and homeranges, so you will need adequate wintercover in each covey’s patch. A long stripof cover could provide for the needs ofseveral coveys.



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Page 2

How to create winter cover on the farmIn existing crops: Leave stubblesas long as possible before ploughing.Stubbles following an undersown crop areparticularly valuable because they remainuncultivated through the spring withinthe ley. Some grant aid will be availablefor this under the new EnvironmentalStewardship Schemes. Don’t spraystubbles indiscriminately, but considerselective herbicides that will knock outnoxious weeds while leaving the others aspartridge food.

If you are growing fodder crops, tryto leave them as long as possible beforegrazing them off. Winter oilseed rapeprovides valuable cover in February/March,at a time of year when other forms ofcover are ploughed up for spring drilling.Try to scatter this crop around the farm insmaller rather than large blocks.

Wild bird seed mix: Plant seed-bearing crops in open areas (not closeto woodland) where grey partridges are

li kely to be foraging. These should be basedon a mixture of three crops such as kale,quinoa, linseed, cereals, millet or rape.These can be planted in patches from sixmetres wide, to half a hectare in size underthe new Entry Level Stewardship (ELS)and Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) inEngland, and Land Management Contracts(LMCs) and the Rural Stewardship Scheme(RSS) in Scotland. However, in Englandcrops such as maize and sorghum arenot allowed and you will only be entitledto claim grant for half a hectare of suchcover in every 20 hectares of your land.Remember that mixtures of winter coverleft uncut at the end of the season andallowed to reseed in a second year canmake excellent brood-rearing cover thefollowing year. This is especially true if kalewas in the original mixture.

Planting cover crops on set-aside:Winter cover can also be grown on set-aside under the ‘wild bird cover option’ in

the set-aside guidelines. A mixture of twocrop groups which could include maizeand kale could be planted in England, kaleand triticale in Scotland. The grant aid isless on set-aside than under ELS or HLS,LMCs or RSS, but there is no limit to theamount you plant within your set-asideentitlement. Try and create strips of wintercover alongside your brood-rearing coverand/or up against your nesting cover sothat birds can find all their needs, all yearround, in close proximity to each other.In blocks of set-aside you could site stripsof nesting cover, brood-rearing cover andwinter cover side-by-side within a single 20metre wide piece.

Feeding: Extra food can be provided infeeders and is probably needed at leastfrom late winter. A separate fact sheet onthis practice has been produced entitledLate winter and spring feeding of pheasantsand partridges.

Good winter cover for grey partridges



Fact sheet1

Restoring wild grey partridgesto your farm

IntroductionThe Game Conservancy Trust is leadingthe way in restoring sustainable numbers ofwild grey partridges to the UK’s farmland.We are the Government’s appointed leadpartner to see that the targets to restoregrey partridges are achieved by the 2010deadline. These published Governmenttargets are:1. To halt the decline by 2005.2. Ensure the population is above 150,000

pairs by 2010.3. Enhance the current geographical

range of this species, wherebiologically feasible.

Full details of the grey partridge (Perdix

perdix) action plan can be found atwww.ukbap.org.uk

We are acutely aware that delivery ofthese targets can happen only with the fullco-operation of farmers, land managersand gamekeepers. To help encouragethem, we have produced a series of factsheets to help create and improve habitats,provide food and shelter, and protectpartridges from predators.




www.gct.org.uk/partridge


More informationTo join the Partridge Count Schemecontact Neville Kingdon on 01425651066 or email: [email protected]

The Advisory Services of GameConservancy Limited can providefurther advice on feeding systems forgamebirds, and on all aspects of gamemanagement. For information, pleasecontact Lynda Ferguson on01425 651013.

Page 2

What do you need to do?Grey partridges need certain resources(food, habitats to live in, to be free ofpredator pressure) at crucial times of theyear. Each fact sheet gives you a simpleguide to what is needed and how it can beachieved. Some of the issues addressed aremore important than others, but all shouldbe considered if you want to restore greypartridges to your land.

The habitats you will need to create onyour farm are:1. Nesting cover.2. Brood-rearing cover for food and shelter.3. Winter cover for food and shelter.

You may also choose to:4. Control predators.5. Provide additional winter and

spring food.

Information on all these issues iscovered in the fact sheets, but if yourequire more detail, a professional, on-farmAdvisory Service is available, that can giveone-to-one advice about the best wayforward on your individual farm. To booka visit, please call Game ConservancyLimited’s Advisory Services on01425 651013.

• Don’t rush into releasing reared birdsuntil you have explored the idea of 1.increasing your wild stocks. Releasing 2.will probably do more harm than good.

• The Trust is working on ways to releasereared greys to re-stock farmland for 3.those who have no wild stock left– watch this space for more detailsin 2006.

Points to rememberIf you have a wild stock (even at alow density) you should strive toincrease this stock by implementing themeasures outlined in these fact sheets.If you have only two pairs per 100hectares, very soon you could havefour, then six and so on. With enoughpeople doing their best we will soonachieve the national target. Remember,every one counts!The grey partridge lays more eggsthan any other British bird. The averagenumber of chicks hatched is 14.Therefore the ability of this species torecover quickly is huge. You only needa few more successful coveys or a fewmore chicks per covey to increaseyour partridge densities greatly. Smallchanges can make big differences.

Steps to takeJoin the Partridge Count Scheme.Get a target for your farm (just send usa map of your farm, we will send youyour personal target).Get advice (see details of the GCadvisor covering your area).

4. Start managing for grey partridges.5. Let us have the data.6. Good luck and remember,

every one counts!

Also remember, the prescriptions forthe sympathetic management of farmlandto encourage grey partridges (provisionof food, shelter, habitats etc) will benefita whole range of other farmland wildlifeincluding many other BAP species, so thegood you do will be of immense value. Beproud of your achievements!

Count your birdsIf you do get started and try to restoreyour grey partridges, please join ourPartridge Count Scheme (PCS) and letthe Trust have your count data. If we areto report in 2010 on the state of greypartridges in the UK we will need goodquality data from as many contributingfarms as possible.


Grey partridges at Royston in AutumnKeepered area

Reference area

2002 2003* before keepering started

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Fact sheet 5

Using predation controlto increase wild grey

partridge numbers

IntroductionAll farmland birds are subject to losses bypredators. Ground-nesting species like thegrey partridge seem especially vulnerablebecause they are susceptible to a greaterrange of predators than those which nestabove the ground, in trees or aroundbuildings. To provide suitable safe nestsites and sufficient food resources, habitatmanagement is a key element in producing

Over more than 30 years, The GameConservancy Trust’s work on the Sussexstudy area revealed the importance ofpredator control, where nest losses topredators were monitored over decadeson farms with and without keepering.

Then, during the 1980s, we conducteda controlled scientific experiment wherewe compared grey partridge populationdynamics on similar areas of farmland thatwere and were not keepered. Over eightyears on Salisbury Plain we showed thatpredator control:

more partridges, but the reduction inlosses to predators can also greatlyincrease their numbers.

Predation is most important andcauses the largest losses when hens arenesting. Incubating hens and their eggs areespecially vulnerable during this period.

• Increased the production of young birds.• Increased numbers in August by 75%

each year.• Resulted, over three years, in a 3.5-fold

increase.• Increased breeding stock in spring by

35% each year.• Resulted, over three years, in a 2.6-fold

increase.In our current demonstration projectat Royston, the effects of keepering andpredator control are clear.

Why should youread this leaflet?This fact sheet explains the needfor predation control to increasewild grey partridge numbers,based on the results of practicalresearch, to achieve the best outof your wild game. By controllingpredators you could help restorepopulations on farmland and helpus to achieve Biodiversity ActionPlan targets for this species.



www.gct.org.uk

The scientific backgroundto predator control


Page 2

Principles of predator controlPredator control can be expensive andti me-consuming. Therefore, if predators areto be removed, you must ensure that theeffort is effective and legal. Before startingout on a predator control programme youshould consider the following principles:

1. Only species that are allowed legally tobe taken should be killed.

2. Protected species must not be targeted.3. Only legally approved methods should

be employed.4. The objective is not to eliminate every

predator. Your aim should be to reducepredator pressure during the crucialnesting and chick rearing seasons toallow birds to breed more successfully.

5. Even on the best keepered land, birdsare lost to predation, both by protectedspecies (badgers and sparrowhawks)and by common species (foxes andcrows). On the Trust’s demonstrationfarm at Loddington, in Leicestershire,where we achieved a wild gamebird tothe acre during the period when ourkeeper was following these principles,

we still lost 40% of our sitting hens topredators. The point is that withoutthe keeper this rate of loss would havebeen more than 80%.

6. Our research has shown that predatorcontrol can be specifically targeted tothe breeding period. A pair that haslost its first clutch will re-nest, so thisperiod is from April to harvest time.Predator control should therefore befocused from late February to mid-July.

Main predatorsMany different predators take hens sittingon the nest, eggs or both. Full details andadvice about how to implement a predatorcontrol programme on your farm or estateare available from Game ConservancyLimited’s (GCL) Advisory Services (seebox below). Some key points are as follows:

Foxes: The fox is the major predator ofsitting hens. Foxes can be controlled bylamping and snaring from February to July.The GCL Advisory Services also run aone-day fox snaring course.

Corvids (crows, magpies, etc) - eggand chick predators: These are bestcontrolled using specialist traps designedfor and perfected to catch corvids duringthe breeding season, eg. the Larsen trap.Our free fact sheet entitled Hints for using

Larsen traps describes best practice, and isavailable from Mike Davis (see box below).

Mink: Using the GCT Mink Raft on pondsand watercourses is an excellent andeffective way to remove mink. Guidelinesfor their manufacture and use are availablefrom the Trust’s website.

Smaller ground predators (stoats, ratsetc): A system of tunnel traps along allhedges and nesting cover around the farmwill ensure that these species are controlled.Remember, the law requires that all snaresand traps must be checked at least oncea day.

Protected species: A recent studyhas shown that of all the raptors, thesparrowhawk was the most important

predator of grey partridges, inflicting mostkills on adults in February/March whenthe pairs are formed. Rates of loss wereabout 17%, but were less important whenbreeding densities of partridges were high(more than five pairs per 100 hectares).The use of cover crops, strategically plantedaround the farm (see Fact sheets 2 and4) can provide escape cover in earlyspring and help reduce losses during thisvulnerable time.

We have little up-to-date informationabout the effect of badgers on nestingpartridges, but we have been able toproduce good densities of partridges whenbadgers were present. We can toleratesome predation from badgers but we donot know whether the densities of badgerson our study areas where we producedpartridges, are high or low.

More informationFurther details on predator controlare available in our Green Guide. TheTrust’s shop can also supply plans andsprings for the manufacture and use ofLarsen Traps. For more details contactMike Davis on 01425 651003.

For further advice on predatorcontrol please contact the AdvisoryServices on 01425 651013.


| GAME & WILDLIFE REVIEW 0826

Some farmers believe that the extinction of the grey partridge on the Sussex Downs is inevitable. However, successful breeding on the Duke of Norfolk’s estate near Arundel suggests this need not be the case.

The basics of wild grey partridge management have been known for a genera-tion. We have known the importance of controlling nest predators, providing nesting cover, having sufficient insect food for the chicks and appropriate rates of shooting. More recently, we have come to believe that we need to provide more food for adult birds and more protection from birds of prey. Following experiences in France, we advocated the use of grain hoppers for adults from autumn to summer and, from research in France, Sussex and Norfolk, including the work of Mark Watson (see Review of 2003, pages 64-67), we also think we need to create umbrella-like cover (eg. kale or thorns) as protection from harriers, buzzards and sparrowhawks, as well as bare areas for roosting (to avoid foxes).

Providing habitat such as beetle banks, hedges and conservation headlands is expensive, but fortunately costs can be recovered either through the Entry Level Stewardship or, preferably, Higher Level Stewardship operated by Natural England. However, the landowner still needs to pay for the essential gamekeeper.

This is a formidable list of recommendations but, since the 2003/04 cropping season, one part of the Sussex study area, Norfolk Estate, has taken up the challenge with spectacular results (see Figure 1). Autumn densities of grey partridges on the area with new management have gone from 1.2 birds per 100 hectares in 2003 to 64.0 in

Grey partridge management area

Rest of Sussex study area

The Sussex study area, where grey partridges are

now making a recovery. © Dick Potts

Grey partridges on theSussex Downs

KEY FINDINGS

Management for grey partridges on part of the Sussex study area has resulted in the highest chick survival we have yet observed and autumn densities near those at the start of the study.

The management prescrip-tion included in-field measures such as beetle banks and low-input conservation headlands; the least favourite ELS/HLS options.

We urge land managers on farmland throughout the country to use those ELS/HLS options most suited to increas-ing grey partridge numbers.

Dick PottsJulie Ewald

Nicholas Aebischer

September densities of grey partridges on the

Sussex Downs study area

Figure 1

The red line indicates the situation in the 1,000-

hectare area that began to be managed in

2003/04, the yellow is the remaining 2,200

hectares.

Gre

y pa

rtri

dges

per

100

hec

tare

s

40

20

0

30

10

50

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

70

60

Management begins

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GAME & WILDLIFE REVIEW 08 | 27

9-10

13-14

17+

2008, whereas on the remaining area the densities were 4.6 per 100 hectares in 2003 and 5.2 in 2008.

In 2008, partridge breeding success on the managed area was the highest we have known with a young-to-old ratio of 4.5. It was 0.4 on the rest of the Sussex study area. Large grey partridge broods were found on the managed area, but not elsewhere (see Figure 2).

Low-input conservation headlands are key ingredients to this new management as they provide the invertebrate food for chicks in the summer months.

It is a sad fact that the precursors of conservation headlands were in place 40 years ago on the study area, but conservation headlands remain one of the least popular management options available in stewardship; fewer than 5% of farmers or landowners in Entry Level Stewardship have put them in.

7-8

1-2

Grey partridge coveys counted on the Sussex

study area in autumn 2008

Figure 2

Brood size (number of chicks)

Note the higher breeding

success on the managed

area (within the orange

boundary).

15-16

11-12

5-6

3-4

0 2 4 kilometres

N

Managed area

Local farmer, Christopher Passmore, Steve Moreby

(with D-vac) and Julie Ewald sampling for insects on

the Sussex study area. © Dick Potts

covey with no young

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