Because they are only found in a few pockets of farmland in south Devon - and nowhere else in the UK - part of the RSPB's strategy to conserve the cirl bunting is a widespread emergency feeding programme.

Bird seed is supplied - free of charge - to people willing to feed them during exceptionally cold weather.

And although the emergency feeding has never had to implemented before, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is warning that it could be needed this winter.

"Some forecasters are anticipating a very chilly winter so it is vital we are prepared," says the RSPB's Kevin Rylands.

Watching for the cirl bunting.

For the past 10 years the RSPB has had bags of wild bird seed donated by a major supplier. More than 20 volunteers, including farmers and National Trust staff, are on standby to put the emergency feeding programme into practice if the cold weather hits.

"As a rule, the food should be distributed if snow cover persists for more than 24 hours or if there are hard frosts for three days running," says Kevin, "because in these conditions they are unable to reach their natural food."

"An old country name for the cirl is 'village bunting' and they are still called that in parts of Devon. If people are lucky enough to have cirl buntings visiting their garden they will feed on bird tables and a have a distinct liking for canary grass!" he adds.

It appears that 2004 has been quite a good year for cirl buntings. Despite the poor summer weather, during which some nests were lost, there were good numbers of grasshoppers.

This means many pairs were able to raise several broods of chicks. The full cirl bunting breeding survey, which was conducted in 2003, estimated there was a population of 697 pairs, up from a low of 118 pairs in 1989.

"This turn around has only been possible thanks to Devon farmers," says Kevin Rylands."Our work with them continues and there are now around 1000 hectares of stubbles for cirl buntings created under Defra agri-environment schemes."

Even though there has been a large increase in cirl bunting numbers, they are still not found at very many different locations and in some places their numbers are still falling. If one of these groups of birds were to be wiped out by a spell of bad weather, it could be disastrous for the species as a whole.

"We hope that the coming winter will be mild and that all the young birds will survive, but it's reassuring to know there is a network of feeding stations available should we have a very cold spell," says Kevin.