Notice the bird of the year
Photo: Arne Ader
Translation: Liis
Partridges
Partridge; grey partridge Nurmkana or põldpüü Perdix perdix
If partridges should stray into your garden in winter, they always come several at a time like a flock of hens in past times. They seek shelter from the winds of winter, so your garden should have a hedge that offers protection (a spruce hedge is very pleasing), and of course they look for food. If they do visit, some grain should be secured. Partridges going about their business make a nice sight.
The pigeon-sized partridges with their plump image have a reddish brown face, a brown-patterned back and grey underparts. Regarding the dark patch on the chest we will hear more from the scientists this year.
Their winter abundance has fallen drastically in Europe. In Estonia the situation is not yet quite as bad: there are some twenty thousand individuals. The birds are about 30 centimetres long and the weight is upwards of 400 grams.
Although partridges are listed as hunting fowl, hunters simply do not hunt them due to the fall in numbers.
Jaanus Aua tells more about the partridge in the Kuku radio "Ilmaparandaja“ (World improver) programme, and at the end Veljo Runnel introduces the winter calls of tits:
See also the home page of the partridge, bird of the year:
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