I attended a recent cultivation trial event for creating stone-curlew nesting habitat, I was there and it was very good and extremely thought provoking, Andrew Holland RSPB Brecks Farm Conservation Officer tells the story of the days events below.
Andrew Holland RSPB Brecks Farm Conservation Officer in full advisory mode (S. Tonkin RSPB)
Here in the Brecks we are extremely lucky to have one of the UK’s rarest breeding birds, the stone-curlew. With its large googly yellow eyes and long legs it almost reminds me of a prehistoric dinosaur, thankfully its not and being between 40 – 44cm its far less scary and its just a tiny bit paranoid too. The stone-curlews scientific name is Burhinus oedicnemus, this scientific name derives from the greek for ox; bous and rhis for nose the second word, a combination of oidos meaning a swelling and kneme refering to the knee, hence thick-knee. The stone-curlew belongs to the family or genus of the thick-knees and demonstrates rather aptly the characteristic long legs, big eyes and cryptic plumage of this group.
This iconic summer visitor plummeted in numbers earlier in the twentieth century due to changes in agricultural and forestry, but is now increasing in numbers due to the excellent work undertaken by farmers (through agri-environment schemes) working together with the RSPB and the continued work of other conservation organisations in the area too.
For the last twenty-eight years the RSPB has worked closely with farmers to create the right substrate, and level of vegetation conditions suitable for this fussy bird. There are so many different techniques that farmers can use to create what we call “Stone curlew nesting plots,” that we decided to organise a cultivation trial event, to look at the various types of machinery available to see which soil disturbance technique stood out, if any.
Farmers where invited on the first day, and day two, saw a good range of people from different conservation organisations advisers from Natural England and the RSPB and land managers from the forestry commision and Wildlife Trust. The farmers as usual brought their enthusiasm and practical ideas which was fantastic to see whilst the people on day two unsurprisingly brought their note books! (although they were also fiull of enthusiasm and ideas) .
Some of the ground disturbance techniques created level soil conditions, some rough, some soft and others firm, whilst the vegetation was either buried or not buried depending on the machinery used. Could decisions be made?
It looks like some of us have made our decisions already; unfortunately none of us are a stone-curlew, although one participant claimed he was half way to becoming one!
One of the attendees on day two was absolutely certain that the cultivation plots without any vegetation were the best. I would not like to be a weed in their garden. Although of course they make a valid point, stone curlews do not like too much vegetation.
The results from the two days will be interesting, as it is of vital importance that the nesting plots are right for birds to nest on. We need to create an area that stands out from the rest of the field, so they don’t nest in the crop where they could be at risk of normal agricultural operations. In my next write up, I will discuss the results and have photos of the best. Until then, every credit to the farmers for all the great work they are currently undertaking for the only breeding Thick knee species in Europe.
Partcipants at the plot trials event (Emily Field RSPB)