With all the new rules connected to greening and the new Agri-Environment Climate Scheme going live, the year didn’t start exactly peacefully... There was a lot of information to keep on top of, a lot to learn and in between it all, the question of how this will all work out for the corn bunting - one of Scotland’s fastest declining birds*.
Image 1: Corn Bunting singing on a fence. This species is rapidly declining in Scotland, and integrating its needs into commercial operations is crucial for its survival and recovery (Andy Hay: rspb-images.com)
This was an even busier time for all the farmers, adjusting and re-adjusting to the new requirements after the CAP reform... I wasn’t sure at all how much spare time, if any, they would have to discuss how corn bunting management could be integrated into commercial operations and how it could be delivered through agri-environment schemes and greening.
However, when I started to call farmers in the core corn bunting area the response was amazing! With their help, land under specific corn bunting management in 2015 will double and even triple in 2016! Three farms will carry on and/ or expand corn bunting management (Boghead, Ethie Mains, Seafield and Windyhills), three farms will take up corn bunting management in 2015 (Kinaldie, Lunan and Mains of Auchmithie), two will join in 2016 (Collieston/ Myreside and Gilchorn) and a further three farmers are interested in potentially joining the project in the near future. These are brilliant news for the local corn buntings and we hope that this will give them the boost they need to get back on their feet.
Image 2: Management for Corn Bunting. A wild bird seed mix on Seafield Farm, Summer 2014. (Yvonne Stephen)
Image 3: Seed from wild bird mixes like this one on Seafield Farm can support large flocks of granivorous bids in winter, in this case a mixed flock of Brambling, Skylark and Corn Bunting. (Hywel Maggs)
We received some funding from the Angus Environmental Trust which allows us to provide a wild bird seed mix most suitable for the corn bunting for free to farmers. If you would like to help the corn bunting making a sustainable recovery in Angus, please get in touch. We still have some free seeds left and can also advise on the new Agri Environment and Climate Scheme.
We would like to thank all the farmers who are taking the time, giving up some of their land and putting up with the extra effort to establish an unharvested wild bird seed mix. This will provide all the corn bunting needs: safe nesting habitat, insect food for their chicks and winter seed food and will be a major step towards saving this iconic bird from extinction.
For more information on supporting the Corn Bunting and updates on the project please contact:
Yvonne Stephan (Project Officer- Corn Bunting):
Email: yvonne.stephan@rspb.org.uk Tel: 01224 624824
By Yvonne Stephan
*Watson, A, Perkins, A.J., Maggs, H.E., & Wilson, J.D. (2009) Decline of Corn Buntings Emberiza calandra on east Scottish study areas in 1989-2007. Bird Study, 56:2,213 — 220)