Friendly Farming Boosts Bird on the Brink
16/02/2011
Recent research has shown that a more targeted approach to farmland management schemes can help boost the numbers of one of the fastest declining birds in Scotland.
The Corn Bunting, which was widespread across the UK, has seen its population dwindle recently due to changes in farming practices. The bird eats insects in the summer and seeds in the winter but due to increased farming efficiency these food resources are becoming increasingly scarce. They also prefer to nest in growing crops which put them at risk from modern harvesting techniques. As a result, the Scottish population now numbers around 850 breeding pairs and is restricted to the Western Isles and the country’s east coast.
The study, carried out by Allan Perkins and his colleagues at RSPB Scotland (published in the Journal of Applied Ecology), looked at the effect of different types of farm management on the rate of change of the Corn Bunting population on the farms observed. Using data collected from more than 70 farms over a seven year survey period, it was found that the birds’ numbers continued to plummet on farms using standard farming methods but were kept relatively stable on farms in the national agri-environment scheme to benefit farmland wildlife general. On farms in the scheme that used targeted Corn Bunting management with additional guidance from the RSPB, it was found that their population increased dramatically.
At present, a quarter of the Scottish Corn Bunting population is being aided by this targeted approach. However, to stop their decline, around 75% of the population would need to be benefitted by this type of scheme. To extend the targeted management to cover this proportion of the Corn Buntings it is expected to cost £120,000, which equates to a mere 0.02% of all Scottish farming subsidies.
This highlights the importance of tailored schemes, and the necessity of delivering management to a significant proportion of the population, to help halt farmland bird declines.
Thom
A Cracking End to the Year
29/12/2010
Normally our twitch days end in total disaster or we end up seeing little else except the few target species we were travelling for. This was no such day.
Our route was to take us to 6 sites in 3 counties in search of 5 species. Unfortunately, we seemed to have picked the worst day to do our last birding for the year. Fog persisted for pretty much the entirety of our outward journey, meaning we dipped at our first site before missing our target at the second. Thankfully, at Theale GP’s we were lucky enough to be graced by the presence of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker which more than made up for the fact that the Scaup was nowhere to be seen.
At the third site we saw 44 White-Fronted Geese, which was a lifer for me. At the next stop we were aiming to get one of Nigel’s bogey birds, the Common Crane, but it lived up to its reputation and eluded us.
We moved on to the village of Great Shefford, where we picked up the easiest life tick possible. The Great White Egret was sitting in the very spot it had been located in days before and was clearly identifiable from the car, although this was helped by the presence of 3 Little Egrets nearby.
Our final stop was Hungerford. We were here for the Glossy Ibis. It took us a good hour to find our way to the bird, entirely because the Birdguides descriptions were piss-poor and if it weren’t for 2 local birders, we would not have seen it at all. Our hour of aimless wandering did pay off though, as we were able to pick up a Waxwing, a Marsh Tit and 3 Kingfishers.
When we eventually got to the birds location, it must have sensed that we were aiming to end the year in style, as it flew in over our heads and sat in a river channel completely untroubled by us and got on with its business, quite literally at one point, while we were stood a couple of metres from it. (Photos of Glossy Ibis and Great White Egret can be found in the gallery
So, the birding year is over but we beat the weather and had much success. Nigel got 2 year ticks and 2 lifers, while I got the same plus the addition of White-Fronted Goose. This means that I managed to beat my record year list from last year by a single bird, ending on 192 FTY.
Thom
Letting the birds come to you
31/10/2010
The last 2 days have been spent almost entirely at home. You would think that this would mean that all was quiet on the birding front but this has just not been the case.
Yesterday, I added Waxwing to the garden list as a flock of 50 flew past my living room window. Today was even more productive. Within an hour this morning, while playing FIFA on the Xbox, I got cracking pictures of a small flock of Waxwings in a tree before noticing a Fieldfare in the same tree. Minutes later I added Pink Footed Goose as a giant V flew overhead. A little later A Buzzard flew past, being pursued by a mixed flock of crows and gulls. Finally, a Coal Tit was seen flitting about in the garden.
This means that I have added 5 birds to the garden list in 2 days.
Thom
Norfolk Bounty
24/09/2010
Last Friday saw us head to north Norfolk in search of the Arctic Warbler. Unfortunately, it had flown off before we got there. This caused us to change our plans and we made our way east along the coast.
Along the way we picked up: Little Stint and Ruff at Titchwell RSPB, Spotted Redshank and Curlew Sandpiper at Cley before heading down to Winterton Dunes, where we were gifted with spectacular views of a Red-Backed Shrike.
That gave me 3 for the year, while Nigel picked up 5. 1 lifer a piece and the race continues...
Thom
Girdle Ness with Ruth
08/09/2010
Having spent the entirety of this morning pining after the birds being seen at Girdle Ness, I decided to spend my afternoon hunting them all down. Ruth fancied the walk and I figured that a second pair of eyes could be a great help.
I hadn't anticipated how good a help she would be! We ended up with 4 Redstarts, 4 Whinchats and a Pied Flycatcher! Ruth found the Pied Flycatcher as well as most of the Redstarts. I was left with the task of mopping up the Whinchats and finding a solitary Golden Plover on the golf course...
So a fantastic afternoon, with 1 lifer and 2 year ticks. That takes me to 179 FTY and 230 on the life list.
(Oh, and I'm now counting up the life ticks that Ruth has but Nigel lacks, seeing as that figure doubled today!)
Thom
The last day with the car
03/09/2010
Yesterday saw us cover an insane number of miles.
We started off at Girdle Ness where we virtually stood on the Lapland Bunting we found in incredibly dense fog. Finding nothing else other than the largest flock of Goldfinch I've ever seen, we moved southwards.
Montrose Basin was our intended destination. By the time we had arrived the fog had cleared and it was a gorgeous morning. Much walking along the Lurgies at Montrose revealed a single Green Sandpiper and a rural Fox in a field. As we turned back towards the car the Common Crane, which had been there for the last fortnight, flew into view in the distance. We ran back along the path to see where it landed and there in the middle of the Basin surrounded by Swans, was the giant beast. We were lucky to get incredible light on an incredible bird.
Our next stop was to the Montrose visitor centre where we found a Water Vole, which was a new record for the reserve.
With a feeling of satisfaction, we made our way to Loch of Strathbeg, where I picked up Ruff but little else. Slightly disappointed, I checked birdguides where 5 Curlew Sandpipers had been reported at the Ythan.
That was the decision made, we sped towards our final stop and were graced by the presence of one of the individuals, although it was quite distant and the light was beginning to fade. The day was then rounded up as an Osprey flew over us hunting for fish. Unfortunately it was hounded by Gulls and never actually went for a grab.
So, we discovered a new birding haven in Montrose and I picked up 2 lifers, 2 for the year and 1 for Aberdeenshire. A fantastic day!
Thom