Overview

• NABU and Bavaria’s LBV announced that the partridge secured 44.5% of votes, prevailing over blackbird, long-eared owl, barn owl and little grebe.
• NABU cites an 87% decline in Germany since 1980, with ZDF reporting an estimated 35,000 to 61,000 breeding pairs remaining.
• Conservation groups call for structurally diverse farmland, including hedges, multi‑year flower strips and fallow plots, alongside reduced pesticides and adapted fertilization.
• Recommendations also include delaying mowing to protect ground nests, reflecting the species’ vulnerability as a ground‑nesting bird whose chicks depend on abundant insects.
• Outlets agree on the vote share but report differing participation totals, with some citing a record 184,044 participants and others listing lower absolute vote counts.