The yellowhammer population fell 54 per cent
between 1970-98 and is now red listed as a bird of conservation concern.
The
yellowhammer population fell 54 per cent between 1970-98 and is now red listed
as a bird of conservation concern.
A flock of yellowhammers along
with other buntings and finches feeding around a winter stubble field is a
welcome sight for birdwatchers, especially when the flock contains a male pine
bunting still present this week at Dunnington near York. But such a big flock;
more than 250 at one stage, is a rare sight in the English countryside.
The
yellowhammer population fell by 54 per cent between 1970-98 and, along with a
number of other farmland birds, it is now red listed as a bird of conservation
concern. The main problem is probably a lack of available grass and weed seeds
to sustain them during winter because of intensive farming. As a result fewer
yellowhammers and other farmland birds survive until spring.
They will seek out
areas where they can find food including any remaining winter stubble fields,
root crops with weeds among them and field margins where grain has been spilt
while being fed to livestock. Yellowhammers continue to do well where seed is
provided on nature reserves or on farmland where seed rich wildlife strips are
in place through Higher Level Stewardship.
Farmers have also been encouraged to
help them by planting perennial ryegrass. This is cut in late May and turned
into silage to feed cattle, then grown again until a second cut is taken.
Cattle graze what is left. But if at least some of this second crop at field
edges is left uncut huge amounts of seed are produced which will last birds through
the winter well into March and the RSPB asks farmers to consider doing this. It
is unclear what the impact on farming and the environment will be after Brexit.
There have been assurances that Entry and Higher Level Stewardship schemes
already in place will continue to be honoured but the long term situation is
unknown. Conservation body BirdLife International blames the EU’s Common
Agricultural Policy for the huge loss of farmland birds across Europe and
perhaps, given greater flexibility, our farmers will be allowed to manage their
land in a more environmentally friendly way again.
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