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The
population of the cirl bunting, a sparrow-sized farmland bird, has
swelled to almost 700 pairs in South Devon, bucking the overall downward
trend for most farmland birds.
The
turnaround is due to a partnership between conservationists, farmers
and government bodies, including English Nature and Defra.
The
species is a relative of the more familiar yellowhammer and is now
confined to Devon, but in the past the species was found more widely
across southern Britain.
Lost
features
Following
decades of decline, the bird's numbers fell to just 118 pairs in
1989.
This
spurred the RSPB to take action to save the bird from extinction
in Britain.
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| Following
decades of decline the cirl bunting was in danger of extinction. |
The
joint RSPB and English Nature-funded Cirl Bunting Project was launched
to help farmers protect the threatened birds on their land.
Landowners
have been encouraged to take part by being offered land management
advice and help applying for Countryside Stewardship funding.
Rich source
RSPB research proves the cirl bunting needs a supply of large insects,
especially grasshoppers, in summer to feed to its chicks, while
in winter the bird needs rich sources of seeds.
Traditionally, large insects would have been plentiful in hay fields
and pastures. However changes in farming methods mean that most
grasslands now support far fewer insects.
Many farmers have also changed the way they grow crops. As a result,
the once a rich winter source of seeds, has largely disappeared,
taking the cirl bunting with them in many areas.
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| Ben
Bradshaw, Minister for Nature Conservation, and Cath Jeffs,
RSPB cirl bunting project officer. |
Other
seed-eating birds, including the tree sparrow, corn bunting and
yellowhammer have been affected too.
"The
cirl bunting is one of our most attractive birds, but it's also
one of our fussiest," said Cath Jeffs, the RSPB's Exeter-based
Cirl Bunting Project officer.
"To
thrive, it needs a supply of large insects in summer and a rich
source of seeds over winter.
"Sadly,
changes in how land is managed, especially the loss of the traditional
spring sowing of cereal crops, means that neither of the bunting's
needs were being met and the bird was suffering terribly.
"Countryside
stewardship provided the funding for farmers to restore lost features,
including weedy winter stubbles, to the landscapes of south Devon
and save the bird."
First
published: 11th November 2003
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