Farmland birds still in decline

9 October 2000



Farmland birds still in decline

By FWi staff

ONCE-COMMON farmland birds such as skylarks and corn buntings are continuing to decline despite conservation efforts, according to a new survey.

Not one species listed on the Species of Conservation Concern “red alert” list have shown any sign of recovery, reports The Times.

And the numbers of six species listed have shown marked declines, says the British Trust for Ornithology.

Grey partridge numbers have fallen 43%, bullfinches 28%, the corn bunting 26%, the turtle dove 18%, skylarks 16% and linnets 14%.

Falling numbers of farmland birds is widely blamed on intensive agriculture which removes food sources and cover.

The survey was done by the trust, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

• GM crops threaten farmland birds, FWi, 01 September, 2000
• British birds threatened by farming, FWi, 07 February, 2000
• Autumn sowing disaster for skylarks headline, FWi, 19 January, 2000