Partridge count scheme

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.

In 1998 the GWCT was nominated Lead Partner for the Grey Partridge Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) by the UK Government. Under the banner ‘Every One Counts’, we re-launched the Scheme as fundamental to our initiative for saving the grey partridge.

We believe that the future of the grey partridge rests in the hands of individuals on the ground through the management measures that they can implement. Counting will monitor the effect: successful measures will be reflected in subsequent counts, further encouraging landowners and managers to strengthen their efforts.

Who can take part?

Any farmers, landowners, land managers, keepers and individuals who is interested in helping conserve grey partridge in their area and who have agreed access to land are invited to take part by counting partridges and submit a copy of their counts to our national database. There are no restrictions on how many partridges you need to have before we are interested, nor do you have to be interested in them as a quarry species - every one counts!

What do we require you to do?

Quite simply, undertake a partridge count twice a year:

• The spring count measures breeding abundance.
• The autumn count measures breeding success.

Counts are done in early morning and/or late evening (we provide detailed instructions on how to count).

What will you get from the Trust?

• Forms and instructions on how to count in a standardised and systematic way.
• A twice-yearly newsletter with national and regional summaries of count results, as well as news, advice and information about GWCT partridge research.
• In most regions, county-level Partridge Groups have been established that hold meetings that often include talks by GWCT partridge research and advisory staff, and often include farm visit/walk to see and discuss pratical efforts. More of these will be organised as members increase in remaining counties.
• Targeted advice on management based on your count.

Important

As strange as it may seem, areas where there are no partridges also need to be included in the Scheme. It is important to confirm there are no birds in these areas and identify them as places for our efforts on expanding the current range. So do still join!