The Axholme and Idle valley farmland bird project is one of a suite of local initiatives supporting groups of farmers working for wildlife across different landscapes. Up here in the low, open flatlands where Nottinghamshire meets Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire, volunteer birders and farmers have just received the results of this season’s bird monitoring. And they show beautifully that there’s more than meets the eye in this arable landscape.
Bird records from the last decade had already highlighted that this was one of the most important parts of England for birds that rely on arable farming. So, the surveys that started last year focused on tracking these species – such as corn bunting, grey partridge and skylark.
This year 13 new sites were surveyed, and across them volunteers found a staggering 101 different bird species. For the species that the project focuses on, the number of territories recorded are:
As the sites surveyed this year were different to those surveyed last year, we can’t yet assume from these results that this shows actual change in bird populations across the whole area between years. We’ll need a few more seasons of data to work that out for sure. However, controlling for the different size areas between years (that is, comparing the number of territories per area surveyed) shows that most species seemed to do as well or better this year than last. The main exception was yellow wagtail. It was also sad to note that, like last year, no turtle doves were recorded at all.
If we compare the number of birds per area with those measured by the British Trust for Ornithology (latest figures available), then this project area still shows many times more of each of these species than an average part of the English countryside.
The number of bird species recorded on each site varied from a very healthy 35 to an astonishing 65. Skylark was recorded on every site, and linnet and yellowhammer were close behind. Among the more unusual bird records this year were red kite, marsh harrier, peregrine and nightingale – all uncommon locally - and must’ve been real treats for their finders.
Project officer, Jim Lennon, will be talking with each of the farms taking part over the next few weeks about their results. For those that would like to give their special wildlife a little extra help, the next few months could be very important. Agri-environment schemes are the biggest and main source of Government funding for biodiversity, but changes taking place over the last year or so have meant that it’s been quite hard to access this support lately. Natural England’s new agri-environment scheme, Countryside Stewardship, is due to launch in 2015, with new agreements and payments starting in 2016. There’s a lot of detail yet to become clear, but it’s very likely that support will be preferentially given to those that are able and willing to help nationally scarce farmland wildlife.
Whatever agri-environment opportunities develop for local farmers, the Axholme and Idle valley farmland bird project is planning for next year’s bird monitoring. Monitoring officer, Anna Broszkiewicz, particularly welcomes any new farms that would be open to having a survey, as well as local birdwatchers who can offer a few early mornings over the spring and would like to visit places not normally accessible to the public. Get in touch with her to find out more about what’s involved – but don’t wait too long. The deadline for 2015 participants is 5 January. Call her on 07736 722184 or email her at anna.broszkiewicz@rspb.org.uk
Thanks must go to each of the volunteer bird surveyors for all their hours of skilled fieldwork this spring, and to each of the farmers taking part. Together we’re starting to better understand how this area is special for farmland birds, and support local wildlife-friendly farmers.