9. LANDSCAPE STUDIES AND FARMLAND BIRDS

9.1 General

This work has the general objectives of investigating the effects of landscape structure and farmland management practices on bird populations and communities. A review of our data (Fuller et al., 1995) has shown that the majority of common and widespread farmland bird species declined during the 1970s and 1980s, and continue to decline in the 1990s; there has been no such general decline in other habitats. This suggests that farmland continues to deteriorate as a wildlife habitat and indicates a continuing need for more research on farmland birds. Of scientific and general interest in its own right, this information is of considerable conservation value, providing a factual basis for advice to conservation agencies, government departments and land managers. The work is conducted at the three levels described below.

9.2 Landscape Studies

These involve the analysis of bird distribution and abundance in farmland CBC plots over the last 30 years, through comparative studies across different plots and analyses of changes on a suite of individual plots that have been studied for 10 years or more. Questions being addressed include:

9.3 Detailed Effects of Farmland Management on Birds

A broad suite of analyses of a variety of BTO databases has produced two books (O’Connor & Shrubb, 1986; Lack, 1992), the second being an advisory book aimed at farmers who wish to manage their land partly for the benefit of birds. More recently, the focus has been on specific aspects of change in farming practice. Another recent change has been the increasing amount of work being undertaken on hill farming. Examples of relevant recent projects are given below; with the exception of the work on sheep, all are funded by MAFF.

9.4 Research and Surveys on Selected Farmland Birds

Breeding waders of wet meadows in lowland England and Wales were surveyed in 1982, to identify important sites and assess total numbers. A large sample of the 1,300 sites was resurveyed in 1989 (with 40 randomly-selected sites that had held no waders in 1982). The information on the declines in breeding wader populations, and on the habitat and land-use factors apparently responsible, has been used for policy development by conservation bodies.

The decline of the Lapwing in much of England and Wales has been investigated through a national survey in 1987 and repeated in 1998. Analyses of nest record cards for Lapwings, studies of survival (from ringing data), and a literature review of all the available European information have also been completed. The particular factors of agricultural specialisation and intensification probably responsible for the decline have been identified. The Corn Bunting is another rapidly-declining farmland bird. Surveys of both winter and breeding populations were conducted in 1992-94, to assess population, distribution and habitat requirements. The Skylark is a current focus of research with detailed assessments of populations and habitat use being undertaken through special breeding and wintering surveys in 1997 and 1998. Breeding performance of Skylarks has been examined through NRS data while BBS data have been used to examine broad relationships with landscape and habitat. An increasing emphasis is on winter farmland birds and in the winter of 1999-2000 the Winter Farmland Bird Survey was launched. This three-year project will collect information on usage of farmland by wintering birds throughout lowland Britain.

Key References

Chamberlain, D.E. & Gregory, R.D. (1999). Coarse and fine scale habitat associations of breeding Skylarks Alauda arvensis in the UK. Bird Study, 46: 34-47.

Chamberlain, D.E., Wilson, A.M., Browne, S.J. & Vickery, J.A. (1999). Effects of habitat type and management on the abundance of skylarks in the breeding season. Journal of Applied Ecology, 36: 856-870.

Chamberlain, D.E., Wilson, J.D. & Fuller, R.J. (1999). A comparison of bird populations on organic and conventional farm systems in southern Britain. Biological Conservation, 88: 307-320.

Chamberlain, D.E. & Fuller, R.J. (1999). Density-dependent habitat distribution in birds: issues of scale, habitat definition and habitat availability. Journal of Avian Biology, 30: 427-436.

Donald, P.F. & Aebischer, N.J. (eds.) (1997). The Ecology and Conservation of Corn Buntings Miliaria calandra. UK Nature Conservation No.13. JNCC, Peterborough.

Fuller, R.J. & Gough, S.J. (1999). Changes in sheep numbers in Britain: implications for bird populations. Biological Conservation, 91: 73-89.

Fuller, R.J., Gough, S.J. & Marchant, J.H. (1995). Bird populations in new lowland woods: landscape, design and management perspectives. In: The Ecology of Woodland Creation (ed. R. Ferris-Kaan), pp. 163-182. Wiley, Chichester.

Fuller, R.J., Gregory, R.D., Gibbons, D.W., Marchant, J.H., Wilson, J.D., Baillie, S.R. & Carter, N. (1995). Population declines and range contractions among farmland birds in Britain. Conservation Biology, 9: 1425-1441.

Fuller, R.J., Trevelyan, R.J. & Hudson, R.W. (1997). Landscape composition models for breeding bird populations in lowland English farmland over a 20 year period. Ecography, 20: 295-307.

Gillings, S. & Fuller, R.J. (1998). Changes in bird populations on sample lowland English farms in relation to loss of hedgerows and other non-crop habitats. Oecologia, 116: 120-127.

Lack, P.C. (1992). Birds on Lowland Farms. HMSO, London.

O’Connor, R.J. & Shrubb, M. (1986). Farming and Birds. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Tucker, G.M., Davies, S.M. & Fuller, R.J. (1994). The Ecology and Conservation of Lapwings Vanellus vanellus. UK Nature Conservation No. 9. JNCC, Peterborough.

Vickery, J.A. & Fuller, R.J. (1998). Use of cereal fields by birds: a review in relation to field margin management. BTO Research Report No. 195. BTO, Thetford.

Vickery, J.A. & Gill, J.A. (1999). Managing grassland for wild geese in Britain: a review. Biological Conservation, 89: 93-106.

Vickery, J.A., Tallowin, J.T., Feber, R.E., Atkinson, P.W., Asteraki, E.J., Fuller, R.J. & Brown, V.K. (1999). Changes in lowland grassland management: implications for invertebrates and birds. BTO Research Report No. 222.

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