Lough Boora Parklands

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 Lough Boora Parklands complex.

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 Bord na Mona, 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 reduces breeding success

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.

Grey partridge imported

A small number of wild grey partridge have been imported to the parklands to increase the genetic diversity and reduce inbreeding of the remaining Irish population. The long-term goal of this import is to see grey partridge recolonising their traditional territories once again.  Further information on the grey partridge can be obtained from the Irish Grey Partridge Conservation Trust.