DARTMOOR PONIES HELP RARE BIRD TO THRIVE ON DEVON RESERVE

Monday 29 April 2019

 A partnership between the RSPB, Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust and Dartmoor farmers Margaret Rogers and Michael Lamb from Widecombe-in-the-Moor, bringing Dartmoor ponies to the Devon coast as conservation grazers, has helped to ensure that numbers of the rare Cirl Bunting on the site have more than quadrupled in the last 10 years.

According to Cath Jeffs from the RSPB: “The RSPB has been loaning Dartmoor ponies to graze the steep but flower-rich fields at its coastal reserve, Labrador Bay (between Shaldon and Maidencombe) since winter 2009/10. Without this vital grazing this special habitat would disappear under bracken and scrub and its value for our wonderful Devon wildlife would be diminished. It is not just plants that are benefiting from the ponies’ management but also another Devon speciality, the Cirl Bunting.

“This colourful small bird of farmland has a deep connection with Devon; it was where they were first recorded in 1800 and from where they expanded to become a familiar species around villages and farms throughout southern England. However, its fortunes suffered a setback after WW2 when changes in land management led to a loss of feeding and nesting sites. Cirl Bunting underwent a catastrophic decline and by the early 1990s numbered less than 120 pairs and was found nowhere else in the UK other than south Devon.
“Since then a Species Recovery Project has seen numbers increase and in 2016 a milestone of 1000 pairs was reached. At Labrador Bay we have seen numbers increase from 3 pairs before purchase in 2008 to almost 30 pairs now. 

Continued

The birdwatcher: Cirl buntings back from the brink

april 6 2019, 12:01am, the times

derwent may

People in Devon and Cornwall are the only ones who can hear cirl buntings singing their spring song. Those are the only counties in Britain in which this attractive hedgerow bird now nests. Until recently Devon was the sole county they bred in, but a conservation team, led by the RSPB and Natural England, has had considerable success in establishing their presence again in Cornwall.

They are quite closely related to yellowhammers (or yellow buntings). They flit along the hedges and sing in small trees, like the yellowhammer. Their song is an unmistakable metallic rattle, slightly reminiscent of the yellowhammer’s slower, more tinkling notes, but without the long wheezing note at the end.

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Nature-friendly farmers help RSPB make conservation breakthrough

Twenty-five years of dedication to saving the cirl bunting as a breeding species in Britain has been rewarded, with the threatened bird’s population topping 1,000 pairs.

Farmers in Devon and Cornwall have responded brilliantly and helped the RSPB make a giant step towards achieving conservation security for this farmland bird.

A survey this summer recorded 1,078 pairs – passing the 1,000-pair target the RSPB set when it launched the Cirl Bunting Project a quarter-century ago. By the early 1990s there were barely more than 100 pairs left in Britain, almost all confined to a narrow coastal strip of South Devon.

The project is one of the best examples anywhere of how farmers and conservation groups can work together and achieve breakthrough results; it is also shines a light on how we can achieve a better future for nature in the farmed countryside.

Nick Bruce-White, the RSPB’s South West regional director, said: “The cirl bunting’s recovery is a wonderful example of farmers and conservationists working together.

“This summer’s survey results show clearly the impact we can have when collective focus is placed on researching and implementing solutions to the loss of nature in our countryside.

“What is so satisfying about this story is how the cirl bunting has recovered thanks to the efforts of farmers. Sadly, farming and nature conservation are often unfairly portrayed as representing conflicting interests – the success of the Cirl Bunting Project is a spectacular demonstration that nothing could be further from the truth.”

The bird’s population crashed in the 1960s and 1970s because of changes to farming practice.

Research by the RSPB and others established the switch from spring to autumn-sown cereals had reduced the cirl bunting’s supply of winter food, more intensive management of grassland had dramatically cut the number of grasshoppers and other invertebrates they needed to feed their young, and modern techniques of maintaining hedgerows had reduced the amount of scrub and bushes essential for nesting and for cover.

These problems were multiplied by the bird’s sedentary nature, meaning they could only thrive where spring-sown cereals, with their characteristic stubbles, unimproved grassland and hedgerows could be found together in a small area – a happy combination still to be found on South Devon’s mixed farms.

The beginning of the cirl bunting’s recovery can be dated to 1991, when Devon farmers began to take up the Countryside Stewardship Scheme – a government programme that allowed them to earn payments for making nature-friendly choices.

Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP for the Totnes constituency – an area that can realistically claim to be the bird’s British heartland – and Species Champion for the cirl bunting, said: “Many congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard to rescue the cirl bunting from the brink.

“The financial support for protecting the habitat of cirl buntings, which has been central to the success of this project, shows the crucial importance of continuing agri-environment support following the end of the Common Agricultural Policy.”

John Holmes, Natural England’s area manager for Devon and Cornwall, said: “This really is a credit to the farmers of Devon and Cornwall. Natural England, in partnership with the RSPB, has helped support more than 140 farmers who have created and managed habitat for cirl buntings.

“This project is a great demonstration of farmers using an agri-environment scheme to make a difference for the natural environment and saving a species under threat of extinction.”

Mel Squires, South West regional director of the National Farmers’ Union, said: “Success for the cirl bunting has not been through chance but a true, committed partnership for 25 years between conservationists and farmers.

“It has been a relentless focus on delivering a combined objective where we have all wanted the same outcome – a positive and resilient future for this fantastic bird. And it’s a great example of making conservation work in tandem with a modern farming setting.”

The cirl bunting was first recorded in Britain by George Montagu in 1800 near Kingsbridge. Its population probably peaked in the 1930s when they could be found in most southern English counties and parts of Wales. At the nadir of its fortunes the bird had largely retreated to the South Devon countryside near to where Montagu first found it.

Cirl buntings are now present in an area largely tracking the coast that stretches from around the Exe estuary, in Devon, to the Rame Peninsula, in South East Cornwall.

In a further groundbreaking project, in order to better secure conservation security for the species, cirl buntings from Devon were re-introduced to the Roseland Peninsula, further west into Cornwall, between 2006 and 2011; 65 pairs were recorded there during this year’s survey. It was the first successful re-introduction of a small passerine (perching bird) in Europe.

Cath Jeffs, the RSPB’s Cirl Bunting Project manager, said: “Cirl buntings need real farmers growing real crops, and cirl-friendly farmers don’t just help these birds but many other species too. For example, more than a quarter of the farms involved in the project now have nationally important assemblages of rare plants.

“Cirls are a very special bird for the South West because this is where the story began and without a lot of hard work by a lot of people over the last 25 years, this is where it could have ended.”

Ends

For further information, images, or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Chris Baker, RSPB Communications Officer, 01392 453299 / 07701 050010

Notes:

The RSPB is hosting a reception to mark the 25th anniversary at Dartington Hall, near Totnes, on 18 November, to thank Devon and Cornwall’s farmers for their contribution to the Cirl Bunting Project. Media organisations are invited to attend from 12.15 to 12.45 (or at other times by prior appointment) where many of the farmers involved in the project will be available for interview. The RSPB would like to thank Natural England and South West Water for helping towards the cost of this event.

This year’s cirl bunting survey was supported by the RSPB, Devon Birds, Devon County Council, the National Trust, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Slapton Ley Field Centre and Teignbridge District Council.

By local authority area the South Hams has 54 per cent of the UK population, Teignbridge 33 per cent, Torbay 7.4 per cent, Cornwall 4.1 per cent, East Devon 1 per cent, North Devon 0.2 per cent, and Exeter 0.1 per cent.

The RSPB’s Labrador Bay reserve, on the coast between Teignmouth and Torquay, is being specially managed for the bird, to help them weather future shocks such as that which prompted the population crash of the 1960s and 1970s. Twenty-three pairs were recorded this year, with many more wintering there, and it now holds two per cent of the national population, qualifying it as a nationally important site for this species. The RSPB hopes similar refugia can be created elsewhere in the cirl bunting’s early 21st Century range.

Cirl buntings are a farmland bird whose increasing numbers belie the trend in the farmed countryside. The number of farmland birds in the UK has declined by 54 per cent since 1970, according to the State of Nature 2016 report. Although the rate has slowed in recent years the decline continues, and 12 of 26 farmland breeding bird species are red-listed (the highest category) as birds of conservation concern in the UK, the greatest percentage of species on the red list by habitat type.

Chris Baker

Communications Officer

Tel: 01392 453299

Mobile: 07701 050010

South West Regional Office, 4th Floor (North Block), Broadwalk House, Southernhay West, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1TS

@RSPB@RSPB#RSPBLinkedInRSPB@rspb_love_nature

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Project to reintroduce cirl bunting to Cornwall is hailed as a great success

Project to reintroduce cirl bunting to Cornwall is hailed as a great success

By Western Morning News | Posted: December 05, 2014

There are encouraging signs that the cirl bunting population in Cornwall is on its way to becoming self-sustaining

A project to bring the rare cirl bunting back to Cornwall is celebrating its best year to date

Cornwall’s re-introduced population of cirl buntings has this year seen its best ever breedingproductivity, with 39 pairs producing over 100 fledglings at the Roseland site. With the population showing every sign of becoming established, this novel project to reintroduce a passerine in Europe has so far been a great success.

more: 

Cirl Bunting numbers on the rise in Cornwall

Cornwall’s re-introduced population of Cirl Buntings has hd its best year yet with 39 pairs producing more than 100 fledglings at the Roseland site. Cirl Bunting numbers have been steadily increasing in Cornwall, since 2006 when the first hand-reared birds were released.

“These are encouraging signs that the population is on its way to becoming self-sustaining, and as the first passerine reintroduction to take place in Europe, the project can be considered a huge success,” said Cath Jeffs, RSPB Cirl Bunting Project Manager

Next year, it is predicted that the population will exceed the milestone of 50 pairs, which would be a great achievement. The key to the future of this project is ensuring that the right habitat is provided through the delivery of agri-environment schemes. If the habitat is there, the birds will continue to flourish.

Continued ...

Improved habitat in south Devon brings cirl buntings back from the brink of extinction

The cirl bunting once faced extinction in the UK. However, it is now making a comeback in its south Devon stronghold.

In November 2008 the RSPB purchased Labrador Bay in Devon from Teignbridge District Council.

A contributing sum of £100,000 towards the purchase came from Devon County Council as compensation for what had been predicted to have a significant impact on cirl bunting habitat – the South Devon Link Road.

The plan for Labrador Bay was to have a reserve that would provide a safe-haven for this colourful bunting, providing all the vital elements it needed to flourish: safe nesting habitat and plenty of food, seeds in the winter and insects in the summer.

Cath Jeffs, cirl bunting project manager said: "At the time of purchase, we estimated that there were three pairs of cirl buntings on site.

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RSPB Media Release: RSPB "appalled" by destruction of wildlife-rich land in Devon by NHS

Media release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RSPB “appalled” by destruction of wildlife-rich land in Devon by NHS

The RSPB has this morning sent a formal letter of complaint to Devon NHS bosses concerning the wilful destruction of land near Exminster. The site, Hillcrest, is home to a nationally important population of cirl buntings. The charity believes this is a deliberate move to reduce the nature conservation value of the land in order to gain planning permission for development.

The cirl bunting is almost entirely restricted to south Devon, particularly coastal land in south Devon. The species almost became extinct in the UK in the late 1980s. But due to the hard work of the RSPB and farmers its numbers have started to recover. The charity is now concerned that destruction of land for development poses a growing threat for the bird.

Mark Robins, Senior Policy Officer for RSPB in the South West explained; “The RSPB has worked at Hillcrest for 15 years in partnership with NHS locally. This has included an active volunteer engagement from amongst the local community, to create high quality wildlife habitat especially for the cirl bunting.  This has been a marvellous joint enterprise that fully reflected the values of the New Leaf project at Hillcrest  - itself centred on social cohesion, environmental improvement and the local community.

“The RSPB paid for spring barley to go on the site - the resulting stubble with its rich bank of weed seed is what these birds rely on in winter. Last week without any consultation with us that was sprayed and ploughed in. We've also worked to leave un-cropped grassy margins round the field - rich in invertebrates. These too have been sprayed and ploughed in. We also worked to get the hedges right for the birds. These have now been flailed.

“And this hasn’t been done by mistake. In July we supplied site ecological data to the environmental consultants acting for NHS and included in our cover note; “the RSPB would be extremely concerned at any development at this site and we wish to be consulted on proposals”

“But now the site is destroyed. To say the least, we are livid.

“The RSPB is all about giving nature a home and especially doing so in partnership with others, especially the local community. It is this wider context that adds to our anger at what has happened. We are not party to the full background but it appears to us that a deliberate decision was taken to sacrifice the wildlife value of the site as part of a determination to make it easier to gain planning permission for development.

“While we understand that the Devon NHS Trust is at liberty to manage its estate as it feels fit, including developing the land, the way this has been undertaken has left no opportunity to seek good outcomes for nature. The NHS has a duty to have regard to the natural environment, to set a good example. What has been done here is the precise opposite.”

The RSPB has asked the NHS to give urgent consideration to three key issues:

• An adequate explanation, not to just the RSPB, but also the local community.
• Short-term mitigation for the loss of the wintering habitat for the key species on this site.
• Replacement habitat for what has been lost as a result of this action.

Ends

For further information, images or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Tony Whitehead, RSPB Press Officer, 01392 453754, 07872 414365

Cirl bunting makes comeback at Jersey golf course

A rare bird not seen in Jersey for 10 years has been spotted at a golf course.

Efforts have been made to manage parts of the Royal Jersey Golf Club to allow the cirl bunting to survive and to provide food for the birds.

Glyn Young, of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, said the bird's arrival was good news.

The cirl bunting is a sparrow-sized bird with a distinctive striped black and yellow face.

Mr Young said a study on the bird's survival prospects in Jersey would take place and include a look at the problem of a lack of food for the cirl bunting during the winter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-20135922