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North West farmers help to save struggling wildlife
Last modified: 09 January 2012
Tree sparrow
Farmers from across the North West have stepped up for nature by getting involved in a conservation project aimed at helping a struggling bird that has suffered huge declines in recent years.
An RSPB project, Operation Tree Sparrow was set up to give a helping hand to the farmland bird species, whose UK population has dropped by more than 90% over the past four decades despite small increases over the past few years.
The tree sparrow is smaller and sleeker than its more common cousin, the house sparrow, and can be distinguished by the pale collar around the back of its neck. Like many farmland bird species, changes in agricultural practices have led to a shortage of its diet of seeds and insects.
The aim of Operation Tree Sparrow - which ran from 2004 to 2011 – was to help reverse declines by providing the species with a much-needed supply of winter food and nesting sites on farms in the North West. Furthermore, farmers were offered support and advice for entry into wildlife-friendly farming schemes to support existing populations of tree sparrows and other farmland birds.
Suitable measures for tree sparrows and other farmland birds that farmers can undertake include winter stubbles, wild bird crops and spring cereals.
Over the life of the project, dedicated volunteers erected over 1,400 nestboxes and hundreds of feeding stations on 85 farms in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside and Cumbria. 36 farms entered wildlife-friendly farming schemes.
As a result, some of the participating farms recorded large numbers of tree sparrows. One farm in Cheshire had 91 birds, while 106 were counted on a farm in Cumbria.
John Alcock of Slack House Farm, Ormskirk, Lancashire was one of the farmers involved in Operation Tree Sparrow. He said: “I joined the project because I am interested in wildlife in general and like to do my bit to help. Tree sparrow numbers and other birds have certainly increased on my farm and I have recently seen little owl roosting on my farm so I am keen to build and put up boxes for them as well. I am in the Entry Level Stewardship scheme and have noticed many more birds around the margins of my fields.”
Carol Coupe of the RSPB, who ran the project, said: “I would like to thank all of the volunteers and farmers who supported Operation Tree Sparrow. Their efforts have given tree sparrows and other farmland birds a chance to thrive once more in the North West.
“However, if the future for the tree sparrow is to be secured, our government needs to recognise the value of nature in our countryside and offer a long term commitment to funding wildlife-friendly farming schemes, which will enable farmers to run their businesses in both an environmentally and economically sustainable way.”
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