Ecology and Conservation
of Lowland Farmland Birds
edited by N.J. Aebischer, A.D. Evans, P.V. Grice and J.A. Vickery
SPOTLIGHT ON DECLINING FARMLAND BIRDS
 The
full story underlying the decline of farmland birds, from changes in
agriculture to identifying causes and proposing remedies, is described in
this new publication by the British Ornithologists'
Union (BOU).
Ecology and Conservation of Lowland Farmland Birds contains written
versions of the talks presented at the BOU's conference held at Southampton
University in spring 1999, and opened by Countryside Minister Elliot Morley.
The fall in farmland birds is one of the most serious problems facing
British conservation experts. Over 20 bird species that live on farmland
have fallen in numbers since the early 1970s. For 12 of these species, their
range or population, or both, have more than halved. Out of 26
"priority species" designated by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan,
half are farmland species. Half of the 36 species on the "red"
list of Birds of Conservation Concern are farmland birds.
Conference delegates explored three main areas:
1. Trends, agricultural policy and conservation
2. Effects of farming on birds
3. Studies of lowland farmland birds
Nineteen papers presented at the BOU conference are included in the report
and it is hoped that policy makers will use the peer-reviewed studies to
pursue much-needed reforms to the agricultural subsidy system.
The BOU conference was the brainchild of Dr Nicholas Aebischer from wildlife
conservation charity The Game Conservancy Trust. He said: "Much more
radical changes in policy are required to shift the influence of
agricultural subsidies towards achieving environmental benefits. There has
been a catastrophic decline in numerous farmland bird species, and urgent
action must be taken if the situation is to improve."
Dr Mark Avery, RSPB Director of Conservation, said: "The appalling
declines in farmland bird populations are already well documented. This
publication shows there is at least some light at the end of the tunnel.
Set-aside and agri-environment schemes have helped some species, such as
Corn Bunting and Stone-curlew, but more money is needed to help farmers turn
round these declines."
The conference was supported by the British
Trust for Ornithology, English
Nature, The Game
Conservancy Trust, Farming and Rural Conservation Agency, Ministry
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds. English Nature, the Joint
Nature Conservation Committee and Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds contributed financially towards the costs publishing Ecology and
Conservation of Lowland Farmland Birds.
To order a copy of this publication, you can download a pdf
order form – you need to have Adobe
Acrobat Reader installed to read, save, or print the form – or print
the web form.
CONTENTS
Editorial
Inaugural message 1
E.A. Morley
Trends, agricultural policy and conservation
Relationships between recent changes in lowland British agriculture
and farmland bird populations: an overview 5
R.J. Fuller
Changes in agriculture and the status of birds breeding in European farmland
17
L. Schifferli
Changes in plant and arthropod biodiversity on lowland farmland: an overview
26
N.W. Sotherton & M.J. Self
The contribution of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and agri-environment
schemes to the conservation of farmland birds in England 36
A.R.H. Swash, P.V. Grice & D. Smallshire
From science to recovery: four case studies of how research has been
translated into conservation action in the UK 43
N.J. Aebischer, R.E. Green & A.D. Evans
Effects of farming on birds
The contribution of hedgerow structure to the value of organic farms to
birds 57
D.E. Chamberlain & J.D. Wilson
Responses of farmland birds to set-aside and its management 69
I.G. Henderson & A.D. Evans
Birds and lowland grassland management practices in the UK: an overview 77
A. Wakeham-Dawson & K.W. Smith
Pesticides and their effects on lowland farmland birds 89
A.J. Burn
Practical management solutions for birds on lowland arable farmland 105
N.D. Boatman, C. Stoate & P.N. Watts
Studies of lowland farmland birds
The demography of lowland farmland birds 117
G.M. Siriwardena, S.R. Baillie, H.Q.P. Crick, J.D. Wilson & S. Gates
Predation and songbird populations 134
C. Stoate & D.L. Thomson
The importance of cereal fields to breeding and wintering Skylarks Alauda
arvensis in the UK 140
P.F. Donald & J.A. Vickery
Understanding the decline of the British population of Song Thrushes Turdus
philomelos 151
D.L. Thomson & P.A. Cotton
Habitat use by Corn Buntings Miliaria calandra in winter and summer 156
N.W. Brickle & D.G.C. Harper
The ecology of Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella on lowland farmland 165
R.B. Bradbury & C. Stoate
The ecology of Linnets Carduelis cannabina on lowland farmland 173
D. Moorcroft & J.D. Wilson
The ecology of the Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio (abstract) 182
D. Vanhinsbergh
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