The main Irish game shooting association, the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) has a number of Grey partridge projects in Ireland.
In August 2022, the Carlow project received 102 partridges from the successful project in Boora, Co. Offaly being run by the Irish government agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Wild Grey partridge require active management including the provision of suitable habitat, predator management and supplementary food.
A key part of this work to expand management efforts is the establishment of a breeding exchange programme, agreed recently between the NARGC and the NPWS. Birds have been distributed between three clubs in Co. Carlow, which is a region in Ireland that historically provides good conditions for the birds, to form part of their breeding programme.
This venture will benefit other regions in Ireland who are part of the national project. The Carlow project is one of the NARGC keystone projects in the country along with projects in counties Dublin and Kilkenny, Cork, and Meath.
There is currently a Grey Partridge agri-environmental scheme in certain areas of Ireland to support the recovery of these important farmland birds: see here.
Source: Keith Foran – pro@nargc.ie
Country: Ireland
Species: Irish Grey Partridge
Species characteristics: Threatened species
Type of actions: Management of habitats and wildlife, Nature education and awareness, Breeding rare species
Leading partner: National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC)
Other partners: Irish government agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service
Starting date: 2022
