Birds: Farm Birds

Farm Birds at Fairlight Place Farm

Barn owls on nesting box Reversing the decline in farm birds in the British countryside is one of the most pressing issues in bird conservation in Britain today. Throughout Europe the number of farm birds has been declining rapidly over the last few decades due to changes in farming practice.

In Britain the decline of birds such as skylark, tree sparrow, linnet and corn bunting has been so rapid these birds have been designated as Priority Species for Conservation in the United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan. This plan is part of a series of measures being carried out around the world to reverse the loss of global biodiversity (the genetic, species and habitat diversity that characterises this planet and upon which human survival depends on).

So what is being done to contribute to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan with regard to the continued survival of farm birds in the Borough of Hastings?

One of the main ways of restoring farm bird populations is through agri-environment grants such as Countryside Stewardship (which has now been replaced with the Entry Level Stewardship & Higher Level Stewardship grants). The Council recently secured a ten year Countryside Stewardship agreement to restore the farm and manage it more sympathetically for wildlife, and to restore the cliff-top heathland within Warren Glen.

The following is a summary of what we plan to do to help a number of declining farm birds species within Fairlight Place Farm and Warren Glen.

Barn Owl

In 2004 two barn owl nest boxes were installed and in 2005 a pair of barn owls raised a brood of five chicks for the first time in over a decade within Fairlight Place Farm. The conversion of arable fields to lightly grazed pasture as well as the management of grassy arable field margins and set aside has provided the ideal habitat for a plentiful supply of small mammals that barn owls and other birds of prey, such as short-eared owl, kestrel, merlin and peregrine require to breed and winter within the farm.

Corn Bunting

Nesting - Nesting habitats throughout the farm are being provided by growing low input spring sown cereals with wide un-sown arable field margins. This allows plenty of space around and within the cereal crop for corn buntings to nest on the ground. The low input barley ensures there is plenty of space for arable weeds such annual grasses, redshank, knotgrass and fat hen to grow as well as leaving areas of bare ground. This provides a lot of potential nesting space and plenty of insects and spiders for the birds to feed their young on. At least one field throughout the farm will be left as set-aside and other fields are being reverted from arable to lightly grazed pasture which will ensure there is more potential nesting and feeding areas for corn buntings.

Wintering - Cereal crops will be managed on rotation with at least one cereal field left as over winter stubble to ensure there is plenty of seed available to corn buntings throughout the winter. Dropped cereal seed and the grass, redshank, knot grass and fat hen seed is vital for the survival of corn buntings and other seed eaters throughout the winter.

For more information about Corn Buntings visit the RSPB website.

Linnet

Nesting - Linnets require managed hedgerow and scrub to nest. Hedgerows and gorse scrub that has grown tall and leggy is unsuitable for nesting linnets so some hedges will be trimmed on a three year rotation to ensure they stay thick and bushy for nesting birds. Gorse will be coppiced on rotation to ensure there is always short bushy gorse scrub available for nesting linnets, yellowhammers and Dartford warblers.

Wintering - A number of wild bird cover strips and blocks will be sown at different times of the year to ensure a constant supply of seed for adults to feed their chicks and for the adults and young in winter. The arable weeds in the spring sown crops will also supply a plentiful supply of seed in winter for linnets and other birds.

For more information about Linetts visit the RSPB website.

Reed Bunting

Nesting - Nesting habitats throughout the farm are being provided by growing low input spring sown cereals with wide un-sown arable field margins. This allows plenty of space around and within the cereal crop for reed buntings to nest. The low input cereal ensures there is plenty of space for arable weeds such annual grasses, redshank, knotgrass and fat hen to grow as well as areas of bare ground. This provides a lot of potential nesting space and plenty of insects and spiders for the birds to feed their young on. At least one field throughout the farm will be left as set-aside and other fields are being reverted from arable to lightly grazed pasture which will ensure there is more potential nesting and feeding areas for reed buntings.

Wintering - There are a number of marshy areas throughout the farm that are being retained and left undisturbed during the year to provide feeding habitat for reed buntings. There are plans to dig at least one scrape (shallow water pond) that will have marshy fringes for feeding reed buntings. The scrape will also provide drinking water for many farm bird species throughout the winter.

For more information about Reed Buntings visit the RSPB website.

Skylark

Nesting - Plenty of available space for breeding skylarks is being provided by growing low input spring sown cereal and lightly grazed pasture. Autumn sown crops will have skylark plots incorporated within them - these are small unsown areas within the body of the crop. The large field on the high ground between Ecclesbourne Glen and Fairlight Glen is the most attractive field for breeding skylarks as it is large with good visibility enabling skylarks to look out for and evade predators. It is also very exposed to onshore winds that stresses plants creating natural areas of bare ground which skylarks utilise as nesting space.

Wintering - The cereal crop will be managed on rotation with at least one cereal field left as over winter stubble to ensure there is plenty of seed available to skylarks throughout the winter. Dropped cereal seed and grasses, redshank, knot grass and fat hen leaves and seed is vital for the survival of skylarks throughout the year. A number of wild bird cover strips and blocks will be sown at different times of the year to ensure a constant supply of seed throughout the winter. The arable weeds in the spring sown crops will also supply a plentiful supply of seed in winter for skylarks and other birds.

For more information about Skylarks visit the RSPB website.

Snipe

Wintering - Throughout the farm there are a number of marshy areas that are being retained and left undisturbed during the year to provide feeding habitat for wintering snipe and woodcock. There are plans to dig at least one scrape (shallow water pond) that will have marshy fringes for wintering snipe. The scrape will also provide drinking water for many farm bird species throughout the winter.

For more information about Snipe visit the RSPB website.

Song Thrush

By managing hedgerows and scrub to ensure dense bushy growth and by managing woodland edge to maintain a scrubby under storey we will ensure a plentiful supply of potential nesting habitat for song thrush.

Throughout the farm there are a number of marshy areas that are being retained and left undisturbed during the year to provide feeding habitat. Song thrush require damp ground to feed on earthworms and snails that are their primary prey. Some hedges will be trimmed on a three year rotation to ensure a plentiful supply of fruit can develop on the second year growth.

For more information about Song Thrush visit the RSPB website.

Tree Sparrow

Nesting - Tree sparrow nest boxes will be installed due to the lack of natural nesting holes. Natural nesting sites are usually very old rotted hedgerow trees which unfortunately are commonly removed.

Wintering - A number of wild bird cover strips and blocks will be sown at different times to ensure a constant supply of seed throughout the year. The arable weeds in the spring sown crops will also supply a plentiful supply of seed in winter for tree sparrows and other birds.

For more information about Song Thrush visit the RSPB website.

Turtle Dove

By managing hedgerows and scrub to ensure dense bushy growth and by managing woodland edge to maintain a scrubby under storey a plentiful supply of potential nesting habitats will be provided for turtle doves.

A number of wild bird cover strips and blocks will be sown at different times to ensure a constant supply of seed throughout the year. The arable weeds in the spring sown crops will also supply a plentiful supply of seed after harvest for turtle doves and other birds during late summer and autumn.

For more information about Turtle Doves visit the RSPB website.

Yellowhammer

Nesting - Yellowhammers require managed hedgerow and scrub to nest. Hedgerows and gorse scrub that has got tall and leggy is unsuitable for nesting yellowhammers so some hedges will be trimmed on a three year rotation to ensure they stay thick and bushy for nesting birds. Gorse will be coppiced on rotation to ensure there is always short bushy gorse scrub available within Warren Glen for nesting yellowhammers, which nest on or near the ground.

For more information about Yellowhammers visit the RSPB website.

Bird Monitoring

As well as implementing the management listed, breeding bird and wintering bird surveys will be carried out throughout the lifespan of the Countryside Stewardship grant to monitor the effects of the management and to make sure it is having the desired result.

Special survey routes are walked throughout the farm and within Warren Glen, Firehills, North Seat and along the beach during the breeding season and occupied territories of the key target birds mapped. In winter fixed point counts at key points throughout the farm are taken of the number of each species using each field. Ringing studies are also being undertaken to gain extra information such as the weight and loyalty of the birds using the fields. This data enables us to determine whether birds are staying throughout the winter and the availability of food.