How are corn buntings doing in Scotland?

RSPB Scotland's Kirsty Nutt outlines the current picture for corn buntings across their four Scottish strongholds.

How are corn buntings doing in Scotland?

Corn buntings have faced historical declines in the British Isles which led to extinction in Ireland, an end to regular breeding in Wales and a large contraction of range in England and Scotland. In eastern Scotland, numbers fell by 83% between 1989 and 2007 resulting in them being described as one of Scotland’s fastest declining birds. At that time, it was thought that as few as 800 singing males were left in just four strongholds – Fife, Angus, NE Scotland (Moray and Aberdeenshire) and the Western Isles. 

Corn bunting distribution and decline (1968-2003)

The combination of a late breeding season, a preference for nesting in growing crops and dependence on the availability of cereal seeds over the winter and large insects in summer, makes corn buntings especially vulnerable to modern agricultural practices.  

It became increasingly clear that, without urgent action, corn buntings could face extinction in Scotland. Using a combination of research into the causes of declines and trialling solutions, advocacy to ensure that farmers could choose options in agri-environment schemes to benefit corn buntings and advisors working with farmers and crofters, action was taken to try to stop declines and start a recovery. 

So, how are corn buntings doing in Scotland in 2019? 

Western Isles 

Crofters on the islands of Uist and Barra have been trying to stem the decline of the last West coast population of corn buntings in Scotland. Sacrificial crops, wild bird cover and feed stations have all been trialled along with various other intervention techniques to try to ensure a steady supply of food over winter, but none so far have proven successful in increasing the number of buntings.   

The Uist corn bunting population is now down to fewer than 30 territorial males and this year was the first time no birds were heard on South Uist or Benbecula. The entire tiny population is clinging on to a small area on the west of North Uist.   

The machairs of Uist are going to be a lot quieter without the trill of this small bunting known locally as gealagan buachair. With the help of crofters, we will continue to try to stem the declines, but time might be running out for these iconic birds in one of the final four Scottish strongholds.  

Angus 

Thanks to the overwhelming efforts of farmers, recovery seems underway. Between 2017 and 2018, corn bunting numbers increased by 26% and the range over which they were found had expanded towards Montrose, where six new corn bunting territories were found. This year, across farms that were monitored in both 2018 and 2019, numbers of corn buntings saw a modest 3% increase.  

100% of corn buntings now have access to the ‘big three’ – safe nesting places, insect-rich summer foraging habitats and winter seed food – within 1km of their breeding territories. The provision of winter seed food through growing a special wild bird seed mix has been key.  

Fife 

In Fife, more than 20 farms including the East Neuk Estates Group are currently involved in the Corn Bunting Recovery Project. They were joined in 2017 by The Links Trust as well as the Kingsbarns and Fairmont golf courses and the Crail Golfing Society. Local schools and communities have joined forces to help this rare farmland bird, planting giant bird tables to provide food for corn buntings as well as yellowhammers, tree sparrows and skylarks over the winter.  

The result? Corn bunting numbers increased by 36% across 13 farms which were surveyed in both 2018 and 2019. This is the highest percentage increase in corn bunting numbers in Fife in any single year since records began. Corn bunting numbers have now more than doubled since their lowest point in 2001.

North East Scotland 

The North East of Scotland is home to the largest of the four Scottish corn bunting populations and their numbers are believed to be largely stable. The challenges they face here are slightly different and are linked more to availability of safe nesting sites. Providing safe nesting places for ground-nesting corn buntings is essential to their survival.  

Trials showed nest success was eight times higher when mowing was delayed until the 1 August. As a result, the “Corn Buntings Mown Grassland” option was introduced to agri-environment schemes. However, the option is not being taken up on a large enough scale. The main reason is the steep decline in quality of late-cut silage, which reduces feed value for livestock significantly. The payment rate is not considered enough incentive to compensate for this.  

Therefore, we are currently carrying out a trial on two farms in Aberdeenshire, looking into increasing the feed value of late-cut silage by testing a variety of grass seed mixes and single late-heading grass varieties. It is hoped that the results of these trials will allow more farmers to wait until 1 August before cutting silage fields providing safe nesting spaces that late-breeding corn buntings desperately need. 

What does this mean for the future of corn buntings in Scotland? 

Corn buntings are hanging on by a thread in the Western Isles but are stable or increasing in the other three remaining areas in Scotland. In Angus and Fife, the actions of famers and landowners have turned the tide, bringing this vulnerable species back from the brink of extinction. 

Farmers and land managers in corn bunting areas are key to the continued recovery of corn buntings in Scotland as is support for those farmers to be able to manage land wildlife-friendly way. 

Want to help? 

Anyone wishing to find out more about how get involved in the Corn Bunting Recovery Project, whether you are a farmer or are interested in volunteering to help count and monitor corn buntings, should contact RSPB Scotland by emailing massimo.prodoscimi@rspb.org.uk.