Overview

• The ground-dwelling farmland species topped a NABU/LBV online poll, finishing ahead of the blackbird and long-eared owl.
• NABU reports the partridge population in Germany has fallen 87 percent since 1980 and describes the trend as alarming.
• The decline is attributed to agricultural intensification, including monocultures, pesticide use, and the loss of hedges, field margins, and fallows.
• NABU urges more fallows, fewer pesticides, and restoration of field margins to support farmland birds.
• Media reports differed on the year label, with one outlet calling it the 2025 winner and citing a record 184,044 participants.