Wild Quail Found on the Southern Slopes of Bamberg

In the picturesque city of Bamberg, a dedicated group of conservationists, known as the Bamberg Partridge Group, have been working tirelessly for over four decades to stabilise and promote the population of endangered partridge species.

The group, founded by Rudolf Frauenknecht, who is now 82 years old, began its mission in 1986. Frauenknecht, the founder of the Bamberg Small Animal Breeding Facility and current chairman of the Partridge Group, has been committed to maintaining the partridge population in the Bamberg region for nearly 40 years.

The main cause of the partridge population decline, as seen in Central Europe, is the destruction of their habitats. To counteract this, the Bamberg Partridge Group has been releasing young partridges in the city and district since its inception.

Recently, 41 wild partridges were released in the Bamberg region to preserve biodiversity. The release in the south field, as stated by Mayor and Environmental Referent Jonas Glüsenkamp, is a clear signal for the protection of endangered species and the promotion of biodiversity in the region.

The action in Bamberg underscores the importance of cooperation between the city, nature conservation organisations, and volunteer groups to sustainably secure biodiversity. The city of Bamberg supports and endorses the work of the Partridge Group as part of its biodiversity strategy.

All released partridges in Bamberg come from captive breeding. Through continuous release, the partridge population in the Bamberg region has significantly recovered. In April 2020, Rudolf Frauenknecht, aged 93, carried out a supplementary release of European partridges in the Naisa area. Sixteen European partridges (eight pairs) were released into the wild as part of the Bamberg Partridge Group's efforts.

The city of Bamberg hopes that the new partridges will thrive in their natural environment. The continuous measures taken by the Partridge Group have contributed to a significant recovery of the partridge population in Bamberg. Despite a year-round ban on hunting partridges, maintaining the population in the wild is extremely difficult. However, the efforts of the Bamberg Partridge Group provide a glimmer of hope for the future of these endangered species.

Suitable locations for partridge release in Bamberg include the south fields, Buger meadows, and in the district, the areas of Geisfeld, Zeegendorf, Leesten, Mistendorf, and Amlingstadt. The Bamberg Partridge Group's efforts aim to ensure the survival and growth of partridge populations in these areas, contributing to the overall biodiversity of the region.