This week, several GWCT research staff are out in the Sussex countryside undertaking autumn partridge counts. Autumn counts provide a great insight into the breeding success of partridge pairs and, in turn, the health of farmland biodiversity. People on farms and estates across the country are taking part, as they have been for decades. If you take part in the Partridge Count Scheme, please make sure you send your counts in.
With a pleasant late summer in full swing, it’s the ideal time to count. As you can see from the pictures below, the weather has been ideal for counting, so make sure you don’t miss out.
What is the Partridge Count Scheme?
The PCS is a free and voluntary scheme run by the GWCT since 1933 to collect information on the annual abundance and breeding success of grey partridges. The scheme is fundamental to the GWCT's initiative for saving the grey partridge, which is a biodiversity indicator species of wider farmland. The PCS is open to farmers, landowners, land managers, keepers, etc., who are interested in helping conserve grey partridges on their land.
PCS records show how a game interest inspires private land managers to go the extra mile. Between 2000 and 2015 partridge numbers dropped nationally by 54% and on those PCS sites without a shoot by 18%. Yet on PCS sites with a shoot, they rose by an impressive 91% in the same period.
The PCS requires participants to undertake a partridge count twice a year: The spring count measures breeding abundance, while the autumn count measures breeding success ¹. The counts are done in early morning and/or late evening, and detailed instructions on how to count are provided by signing up at www.gwct.org.uk/pcs.