Farmland bird numbers slump to record low

Farmland bird numbers slump to record low

Ed Ewing
Guardian Unlimited
Friday October 19 2007


A grey partridge: Once common on British farmland, numbers have fallen by 88% since 1970. Photograph: RSPB

A European-wide ruling to increase wheat supply could have a "devastating effect" on Britain's already threatened farmland birds, the RSPB warned today.

The decision this summer by the EU to reduce "set-aside" land across Europe in a bid to increase next year's wheat crop by 10m tonnes will have a direct impact on populations of specialist farmland birds like the yellowhammer, grey partridge and skylark, the RSPB said.

The claim comes as new government figures show that populations of specialist farmland birds – birds that breed or feed mainly on farmland – have declined to a record low.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said populations of specialist farmland birds have declined by an average of 60% since 1970. The figures were released yesterday as part of Defra's annual wild bird population survey.

The 60% average decline masks the near collapse of some species. Between 1970 and 2005 the tree sparrow population declined 93%, the corn bunting by 89%, grey partridge by 88%, yellowhammer by 54% and the lapwing by 47%.

The figures were greeted by the RSPB as "depressing".

Dr Sue Armstrong, the RSPB's head of countryside policy, said: "Farmland birds are the barometer by which the government measures the health of the countryside. We wish there was a better story to tell."

The European-wide measure to decrease agricultural set-aside land across Europe to 0% for 2008 is further cause for alarm, the RSPB said.

Set-aside land is farmland that is not used for food production. As such it can provide habitat for wildlife. Currently, set-aside land in England accounts for around 8% of all farmland.

Harry Huyton, RSPB agriculture policy officer, said: "Set aside was introduced as a control mechanism to control food surplus. The benefit to the environment is accidental.

"This year's tight cereal market and poor harvest worldwide has seen wheat prices double. The EU has released set-aside land in a bid to increase the wheat crop by 10m tonnes."

The RSPB said the removal of set-aside land could have a "devastating effect" on specialist farm birds.

Grahame Madge, RSPB spokesman, said: "Having farmland not intensively farmed is invaluable for birds. Set-aside will go for one year. People will argue that is as good as going forever. Fields will be ploughed and habitats lost."

He said the decision could be catastrophic for specialist farmland birds. "Fifty years ago you'd see a grey partridge on every lowland farm. Now it's a red letter day when you see one."

He said: "What we fear is we are now heading for a step-change downwards … local extinction is a possibility. Whole species of birds could disappear from some counties."

The RSPB called on the government to make more funding available for "agri-environment" schemes. These allow farmers to farm in a "wildlife friendly way," Mr Madge said. "Maintaining hedgerows, ditches, building beetle banks and skylark plots all help."

Gareth Morgan, head of the RSPB's agricultural policy team, said: "The UK has developed some of the best agri-environment schemes in the world. More resources are urgently needed if we stand a chance of halting and eventually reversing the decline of some of our best loved birds."

Fonte: The Guardian