Farmland Birds
For centuries, farmland birds have coexisted with agriculture relying on traditional farming practices and the habitats they create.
Farming practices have, however, intensified significantly since the 1950s and as a result, many farmland bird species have displayed worrying declines. Skylarks singing and dancing in the air, the distinctive pee-wit cry of the lapwing, once common on farms throughout the countryside are now rare. Changes to traditional farming practices, increased use of agro-chemicals and loss of semi-natural habitats has contributed to a loss of nesting and feeding sites.
Small changes in farming practices and agri-environmental management can, however, benefit a wide range of farmland birds and help to reverse declines. Farmland birds need:
- Access to invertebrate-rich habitats to feed their chicks during the breeding season.
- Seeds and berries to sustain populations throughout the winter.
- Safe places to nest and rear chicks.
These resources are collectively known as the big three for farmland birds. Few habitats offer all resources and therefore a diversity of habitats are usually required to sustain breeding populations.
| Change | Impact on the breeding and foraging habitat of farmland birds | Examples of bird species impacted |
|---|---|---|
| Increased field sizes - (a) | Loss of hedgerows and farm woodlands that provide shelter and nesting sites | Yellowhammer Tree sparrow Linnet |
| Increased field sizes - (b) | Loss of floristically diverse field margins that provide insect-rich foraging habitats and a source of winter seed | Yellowhammer Skylark Grey partridge |
| Change from hay to silage | Cutting during the breeding season and increased frequency of cutting increases the risk of disturbing nests and offspring of ground nesting birds | Skylark Lapwing Corncrake |
| Winter sown cereals rather than spring sown cereals - (a) | Loss of nesting sites | Skylark |
| Winter sown cereals rather than spring sown cereals (b) | Loss of winter stubble providing weed seeds and spilt grain during the winter | Corn bunting Grey partridge Linnet |
| Increased insecticide and herbicide applications | Declines in insects a vital source of food for many species during the breeding season. Loss of weed seeds. | Corn bunting Grey partridge Tree sparrow |
| Loss of mixed farming systems and simplification of crops grown | Birds that can move locally between nesting and feeding habitats fail to locate the required habitats in close proximity | Lapwing Yellowhammer Grey partridge |
| Fields drained to increase productivity | Loss of wetland habitats rich in soil invertebrates | Curlew Snipe Oystercatcher |
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