The grey partridge has gone from being a ubiquitous game bird, found throughout the country to one of our most endangered bird species. The last remaining population is now found in the Boora Parklands complex and numbered less than 24 birds in autumn 2000.

Duchas, with the help of Bord na Mona and the Royal College of Surgeons are sponsoring a conservation project for the Partridge. A 150ha block of cutaway has been leased from BNM, which is being managed for the benefit of the partridge. Earlier research identified the bird’s requirements through the various seasons. Nesting cover, chick-rearing cover and winter food crops have been sown in strips and nesting banks, imitating those used by the birds in other areas, have also been created.

Predation during the nesting season is responsible for much of the loss of breeding success and this has resulted in insufficient young being produced to offset mortality in adult birds. In addition to habitat improvement there is a fulltime gamekeeper employed to protect the nesting birds.

The low number of birds has led to inbreeding. This has further reduced the breeding success of the population and is weakening the viability of the last of the birds. In 2001 the intention is to import a small number of wild grey partridge to increase the genetic diversity and reduce inbreeding of the remaining Irish population. If successful, one can expect to see grey partridge recolonising their traditional territories once again.

Further information on the project can be obtained from: