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Cirl bunting BAP report

Male cirl bunting perched on branch in winter
The cirl bunting, once widespread across southern Britain, is now only found in the West Country

What are we trying to achieve?

The Government agreed a Biodiversity Action Plan for this species in 1998. The targets for this plan were revised in 2006 and are as follows:

  • Increase the UK population from 800 pairs to 1050 by 2010
  • Increase range through natural recolonisation in South Devon/Cornwall from 124 tetrads to 140 tetrads by 2010. (A tetrad is four 1-km squares arranged into a 2 km by 2 km square)
  • Increase the range in southern England by establishing one self-sustaining population by 2010, 2 self-sustaining populations by 2015, and 3 self-sustaining populations by 2020

The RSPB is working with Natural England (NE) as Joint Lead Partners for this action plan.

What is the RSPB doing to help?

During 2006, the RSPB continued its programme of work to conserve the cirl bunting. This included the following:

  • Continued to employ a cirl bunting Project Manager and Officer to undertake liaison and advisory work
  • Began a four-year translocation programme of chicks from the south Devon population into a site in south Cornwall, with the aim of establishing a self-sustaining population. Seventy-two chicks were successfully released in 2006
  • Continued to liase with farmers entered into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS). This scheme supports management beneficial for cirl bunting, including a Cirl Bunting Special Project. This Special Project provides payment for growing spring barley that is left unploughed after harvest in localities that support cirl buntings. These stubble fields are vital as winter feeding habitat. As these 10-year agreements come to an end we seek to ensure the management continues through ES
  • Actively promoted Higher Level Scheme, which after considerable RSPB input and lobbying has the ability to deliver cirl bunting habitat. Five applications for Higher Level Environmental Stewardship were submitted
  • Presented evidence in planning inquiries over developments that could have an adverse affect on cirl buntings
  • Continued to manage land for cirl buntings at Wembury and Exminster.
  • Worked with volunteers to develop the Emergency Feeding strategy

UK cirl bunting population trend

Summary of progress

A full survey in 2003 showed that the population had increased to almost 700 pairs, continuing the upward trend since 1996. In 2006, the population was estimated to be around 800 pairs, based on previous growth. However, there are problems in trying to maintain this species in the north and west parts of its range, Threats in the northern part of the range appear to have lessened due to support from Teignbridge District Council (TDC) and Devon County Council (DCC). Both are seeking to deflect required development into areas of low biodiversity value, however as the need for built development is likey to increase this remains a threat.

For the first in time in around 20 years, cirl buntings were recorded on an RSPB reserve (Exminster Marshes). 
 
Good progress has been made in securing favourable management for cirl buntings with over 1000 hectares under winter stubble through management agreements. In Devon 51% of the population is covered by management agreements and 95% of the population is within 2 km of land under agreement.
The project has attracted positive media attention and is generally well supported by the local community. 

Has our work been effective?

We have played a key role in developing beneficial land management for cirl buntings:

  • After researching the needs of cirl buntings for several years, we have worked with Defra to develop suitable and effective management prescriptions for cirl buntings
  • Through our monitoring, we have identified areas where these should be applied
  • The RSPB continues to be proactive in targeting key farms that currently have cirl buntings or which link farms with cirl buntings
  • RSPB research has confirmed that Countryside Stewardship agreements are benefiting cirl buntings
  • Through the work of our Project Officer and the Cirl Bunting Special Project, we effectively targeted the use of CSS and now actively promote its replacement, Higher Level Environmental Stewardship
  • With English Nature (now incorporated within Natural England) we successfully lobbied Defra to ensure cirl bunting management was included within the new higher tier scheme from 2005
  • Birds released in south Cornwall are behaving naturally and the target of 20 birds surviving the winter has been reached

The population is still small and is therefore vulnerable to the impacts of development. We will need to be effective in safeguarding sites in the future.

What do we plan to do next?

We will:

  • Continue to fund project staff
  • Continue the project to re-introduce cirl buntings to Cornwall
  • Monitor the released birds
  • Continue to encourage targeted take-up of agri-environment schemes that will benefit cirl buntings
  • Monitor uptake of Environmental Stewardship and its success with regard to cirl bunting recovery
  • Work with NE to ensure that Environmental Stewardship adequately replaces the options previously available in CSS
  • Analyse and publish the results of the effect of CSS on the cirl bunting population
  • Continue to work with local planners and monitor the production of new Local Development Framework documents and planning applications, to ensure there are no adverse effects to cirl buntings from built development
  • Secure Local Authorities’ and NE endorsement for Supplementary Planning Guidance, which aims to guide developers so that they do not put forward developments damaging to cirl bunting
  • Ensure that RSPB-managed sites and SSSIs deliver maximum benefits for cirl buntings
  • Use the cirl bunting project to illustrate the benefits of correctly targeted agri-environment schemes
  • Develop a programme of community– and farmer-oriented events
  • Pursue opportunities to purchase land for cirl buntings, to curb the potential extension of damaging urban development
  • Develop a network of RSPB management agreements, where agri-environment is not possible

What are the constraints to fully achieving the targets?

The Environmental Stewardship scheme needs to be carefully assessed and monitored to ensure it builds on the success of CSS and provides suitable habitat. In its present form, ELS will not provide cirl bunting habitat and HLS is the main mechanism for delivering cirl buntings. The current shortfall in funding of HLS agreements is therefore of major concern, and could have a severe impact on the recovery. For example 22% of the UK cirl bunting population on land currently within CSS agreements will be coming up for renewal over the next three years. If these agreements are not accepted within HLS there is going to be little incentive for farmers to continue to manage their land sympathetically for cirl buntings. If this is the case then we may see a reversal in the fortunes of this recovering species.

There are some indications that as a result of recent changes in the farm support system, farmers in the west of the UK may grow less arable (or stopping growing it altogether) as it will no longer be economically viable. Mixed farms are vital for cirl bunting as they require both arable and grassland habitat.

Habitat fragmentation is limiting dispersal (there needs to be an existing population within 2 km for a site to be colonised). Areas of ideal habitat need to be linked to aid recolonisation.

Stronger statutory protection is required, to ensure that nationally important populations remain intact, and are safeguarded from inappropriate built development or management.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Natural England for its financial support towards our work on cirl buntings, through Action for Birds in England, a conservation partnership between NE and the RSPB and through the 2010 Action for Biodiversity fund.

Last modified: 30 August 2007