Monitoring volunteers meet at Diksmuide, Belgium for a joyful evening
To thank the Flemish hunters that volunteered at the hare and partridge counts for the INTERREG - PARTRIDGE project, INBO organised a volunteer event in Diksmuide on Tuesday 26th of June. Volunteers were welcomed at 5.30 pm, with drinks on the farm of hunter/farmer Eric Cloet. Later, delicious Belgian fries and homemade snacks were enjoyed. The volunteers exchanged experiences with other volunteers and INBO employees, and the overall atmosphere was pleasant and relaxed.
After dinner, the results of the first two years of PARTRIDGE were presented to the volunteers by INBO. There was time left for another drink and even a game of pool in the lodge.
The location was ideal, with a light sea breeze on a warm and sunny day and a field with PARTRIDGE-mix nearby. Next to one of the farm buildings was a feeder for partridge. Using an opening in the door, you could get a nice view of the feeder and, more importantly, its visitors. Eric proudly guided small groups of volunteers and INBO employees to this spot on several occassions during the evening - and with success because several people actually saw a partridge near the feeder which was the icing on the cake!
