Regular readers of this column may remember a report last year on attempts to save the last of the grey partridge, which had declined to fewer than 70 birds in the Midlands.
The sad news is that, despite the Grey Partridge Conservation Project, which is based at Boora bog, bird numbers have dropped from some 70 to 23 or 24.
According to Dr Brendan Kavanagh, the project co-ordinator, two dreadful breeding seasons for the partridge have meant that the numbers have declined alarmingly.
"We have counted six or seven breeding pairs and our hope is that they will have better luck this year than in the previous two seasons," said Dr Kavanagh this week. "We expect the eggs to hatch out this week and we are keeping our fingers crossed because this is the last ditch for the native grey partridge."
However, Dr Kavanagh, who works at the biology division of the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, said the project may yet be successful.
"While the EU funding for the project has dried up, I am delighted to say that Duchas, the Heritage Service, has continued to provide assistance. This has meant that I have been able to get a three-year lease of the very important habitat on cutaway bog from Bord na Mona and this time there will be no bog working going on there to disturb the birds."
He said Bord na Mona had been very helpful in preparing the area for protecting the birds and had helped build nesting banks. "This week I will be meeting with a local agricultural expert to decide what crops we will plant because it is the lack of diversity in Irish farmland which has caused such decline.
"These birds need kale and cereal crops to feed and hide in. A country which just provides grassland will not suffice so we are going to plant crops to help them survive."
Dr Kavanagh said if this season did not prevent the drop in bird numbers he would have to consider importing wild partridge from Britain. "I would prefer not to do this but if we want the species to survive, we will have to do it."
He said the end of EU funding was creating financial difficulties for the project and he was hoping a sponsor might come forward.
"The Land Rover we have is ancient and funding only allows for the employment of a gamekeeper to protect the birds. There is no finance for a research worker and I would like help in this department."
Dr Kavanagh can be contacted at 01-4022333.