Despite avian influenza causing devastating declines in some UK native and migratory bird species, some shoots have reported that the 2022-23 season may have been successful overall for the grey partridge. After favourable early nesting conditions thanks to low rainfall at the start of June, hopes had been high for strong numbers going on to overwinter. However, as Roger Draycott, director of advisory and education at the GWCT, pointed out: “The ongoing dry weather that continued into late summer led to lower insect counts in July and August. This was due to the desiccation of wildflowers,...