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The Cirl Bunting project |
The cirl bunting project
This project will see the RSPB working with farmers and landowners to increase the cirl bunting population. A Project Officer promotes positive land management and offers advice to farmers within the birds' current range. Targeted use of mainly government funded management agreements has seen a reversal of the species' fortunes over the past ten years, although the population remains vulnerable. The Cirl Bunting Project is part of Action for Birds in England - a conservation partnership between Natural England and the RSPB. BackgroundThe cirl (pronounced sirl) bunting is a small finch-like bird that is a close cousin of the yellowhammer. Once found commonly across much of southern England, cirl buntings are now very rare and only breed in south Devon, where they are mainly confined to coastal and inland areas between Plymouth and Exeter. A programme of RSPB research helped to explain and understand the causes for this decline. Cirl buntings are birds of mixed farmland and the loss of sources of food (both winter and summer) and nesting sites was identified as the major reason for the cirl buntings dramatic decline. 90% of the population is within 1 km of a Countryside Stewardship agreement and 95% are within 2 km During the winter, they forage in weedy stubble fields feeding on seeds and spilt grain. In the summer, they nest in hedges or scrub and forage in unimproved grassland full of invertebrates: grasshoppers are a particularly valuable food for chicks. These habitats have become uncommon because of changes in farming practices, eg the switch from spring to autumn cropping, reseeding/fertilizing grassland and hedge removal. These changes have usually been as a direct result of the Common Agricultural Policy and the drive for the UK to produce cheap food. The re-creation of these habitats is the key to reversing the fortunes of this colourful bird and the support of the farming community is vital if this is to be achieved. Designer stubbles and the projectIn 1993, the RSPB, with financial support from English Nature (from 1995), set up the Cirl Bunting Project. The Project Officer was able to give on-the-spot advice to land managers on how to manage land for cirl buntings and other farmland wildlife. The Project also helped farmers to gain the grants available to support such management: to date this has mainly been the Countryside Stewardship Scheme run by the Rural Development Service DEFRA. Countryside Stewardship even has a special project for cirl buntings, which is to grow spring barley with reduced pesticides that is left as weedy stubble throughout the winter. This has been extremely popular with the farmers in south Devon. The project has now given advice and support to hundreds of farmers and landowners across Devon and other areas of the South West and has even spawned replica schemes for other bird species in Cornwall and Northern Ireland. There are now over 220 cirl bunting Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreements mostly in south Devon with a few in south Cornwall. Cirl bunting stewardship agreements include:
These CS agreements directly cover around 45% of the total cirl bunting population. A further 6% of the population is covered by other agreements, eg RSPB, Local Authority. These populations are protected during the course of the 10-year agreement. In addition, 90% of the population is within 1 km of a Stewardship agreement and 95% are within 2 km. Cirl buntings are very sedentary and are unlikely to move more than 2 km between wintering and breeding areas, usually much less. Therefore, there needs to be a network of positive management if we are to see these birds spread. Cirl buntings increasingThe success of the project can be measured by the increase in population. In 1989, only 118 pairs could be located but this figure increased to over 550 pairs in 2002 and was approaching 700 pairs in 2003. Research undertaken by the RSPB in 1999 showed a positive link between CS agreements and the recovery of the cirl bunting population in Devon. The management options found to be the most beneficial for this species were the special project winter stubbles and wide uncropped arable field margins. As well as cirl buntings, other farmland wildlife such as skylark, yellowhammer, brown hare and arable plants are likely to be benefiting from the changes in management. The futureThe RSPB is committed to ensuring the cirl bunting population increases both in numbers and range. The project will build on the positive work that has already been achieved and will continue working with farmers and local communities. Although the cirl bunting is on the road to recovery and things look rosier than they did 10 years ago, there are still challenges to be met. Despite the population increase, there has been no corresponding range expansion; indeed cirl buntings continue to decline in some areas, particularly on the west and north of the current range. Of increasing concern is the threat from built development, a particular problem in the north and west of the range where the birds are concentrated on urban fringes. The project is working with Local Authorities and developers to ensure that the impact on cirl buntings is minimised. If we are to see cirl bunting re-colonise southern England we need to see wide-ranging changes in the current agricultural policy to encourage farming that supports both farmers and wildlife. Farmers' viewsThe RSPB also undertook some research (1999-2000) to investigate the motivation behind farmers joining the CS scheme and its social and economic effects. The principal reasons for joining were the potential financial and environmental benefits. Their comments were, on the whole, extremely positive with 94% pleased that they had joined the scheme. It was clear from the study that some farmers felt more comfortable with a less intensive farming approach and had enjoyed seeing more wildlife on their farms. Meet the farmers Colin and Vanessa MillsColin and Vanessa have been farming at Southdown Farm near Marlborough for 10 years. They originally had 25 acres but, when The National Trust bought the farm in 1998, they had the option of taking on the whole 440 acres. The farm is mixed with breeding outdoor sows (the farms main enterprise), 240 acres arable with the remaining grassland and cliff coastal strip being beef and sheep grazed. Since Colin and Vanessa have been farming the whole of Southdown, the wildlife seems to be flourishing. The number of cirl buntings has increased from 1 to 5 pairs and you are now more likely to see a hare on the farm than a rabbit. While part of the increase in wildlife is down to the farm being entered into a CS agreement in 1998, much must also be down to Colin and Vanessas farm diversification project and the couples interest in wildlife. We asked Colin to tell us why Southdown Farm is becoming such a Mecca for wildlife. I have always been interested in birds and I used to come here birdwatching before we had the farm. It is a migration hotspot so I have seen plenty of rare and unusual birds here. However, it was the plight of declining farmland birds combined with the crisis in the pig industry and the need to diversify, which created Soar Mill Seeds. The idea is to grow, package and market high quality British seed for people to feed to their garden birds. We had noticed how birds flocked to the stubbles we left as part of our Stewardship agreement and made the decision that the seed grown would come from spring crops and left as stubble over winter. In this way, we would also be feeding the birds on the farm. Hence, the seed is marketed as Winter Stubbles TM. The more Winter Stubbles TM we sell, the more fields are left as natural larders for the farms birds. We grow a mixture of crops including sunflower, millet, linseed, wheat and oilseed rape. Although not completely organic, we use chemicals only if completely necessary. Other ways we help our farm birds are setting up winter-feeding stations and feeding our grain cleanings. Cleanings are also used for planting up large areas of set-aside. Something else that we have noticed that can be good for birds is leaving drams of straw on the fields after harvest. These harbour spiders and insects, which attract wrens and dunnock to feed on them. Just by leaving a dram of wheat straw around a headland could provide a significant source of food for many birds. Luckily, as this is still our main income, the pig industry has recovered. However, we want our bird food project to be successful as we are already seeing many increases in the number of birds on the farm. I believe our farm is now an important site for wintering skylark with flocks of up to 600 birds being recorded and the cirl bunting (which we use on our logo) has definitely benefited from the work we are doing. The British public is constantly being told of the destruction of their countryside; we feel sure that this project, as well as providing a source of income, will continue to have huge benefits for this farms wildlife. Grant aid availableEnvironmental Stewardship offers grant aid to farmers in south Devon for work that benefits cirl buntings. For more information, please see the link on this page. Contact
Last modified: 16 February 2007 | In more depthBird guideDownloads
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Insect on dewy ears of barley - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
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