Partridges back in Dutch nature reserve

This video from Britain is called The Return of the Grey Partridge.

Translated from Dutch conservation organization Natuurmonumenten:

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

The partridge is back in the Zeepeduinen near Burgh-Haamstede (Zeeland province). “I think it is at least thirty years ago that one could see partridges in ‘t Zeepe,” said forester Ted Sluijter.

Rare bird

The partridge is a typical farmland bird. Things are not going well for it in the Netherlands. By the disappearance of bits of fallow land and edges of fields with lots of herbs the habitat of the birds has been decreasing.

Special observation

Since last winter the partridges once again are seen regularly in the polder area in Haamstede. “It’s a very special observation,” said forester Ted Sluijter.

The latest scientific data brought together by BirdLife International and the European Bird Census Council show that common farmland birds continue to decline in the EU: 300 million farmland birds have been lost since 1980: here.