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This kale strip, in its first season, has been planted under the Wild Bird Cover Option of set-aside. It makes ideal cover for partridges in winter. (Stephen Tapper) |
Modern farmland is a hungry place for birds. The combine harvester leaves little spilt grain for seed eaters and early cultivation for winter crops means the rest of the grain, along with any weed seeds, is quickly buried. Further, many farms are now specialised arable enterprises and partridge coveys have lost the opportunity to share food provided for livestock wintering outdoors. Nevertheless, the young shoots of winter corn are themselves a source of food.
Much modern farmland is not only hungry, it is bare too. Partridges need some cover, not only as shelter from the worst of the winter rain and gales, but also to hide from predators.
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| A partridge pair in a field of winter corn. Provided with food and cover partridges can withstand the cold - they survive very well, for example, on the Russian steppe and Canadian prairies where temperatures are extreme. The characteristic cross-barring on the scapula feathers of the hen can be seen on the bird in the foreground. (Chris Knights) |
DOS AND DON'TS FOR FARMERS |
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Plant seed-bearing game crops* such as kale or quinoa in open areas where partridges are likely to be and not close to woodland. |
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Leave stubbles as long as possible before ploughing*. Stubbles following an undersown crop are particularly valuable because they remain uncultivated through the spring within the ley. |
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Put out bird feeders designed for partridges in places where coveys like to over-winter. Place them near cover or create cover nearby using piles of brush. |
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Use the Wild Bird Cover Option of set-aside with a kale-quinoa mixture left for two years. In winter and spring this provides food and protection from predators. |
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Don't spray stubbles indiscriminately, but consider selective herbicides that will knock out noxious weeds while leaving the others as partridge food. |
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Avoid planting new woodland in open areas suitable for grey partridges. |
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| * Some grant aid may be available for these under some Agri-environment Schemes. | |
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| An old drum set up as a partridge feeder. Whole wheat is used as food and the partridges have to reach up and peck the grains out through a fine mesh. The whole is suspended on wire to prevent small rodents from gaining access. The feeder should be sited on open ground well away from woods and trees but near some ground cover such as stubble or set-aside. (Dick Potts) |