Concerns have been raised after a new report looking at Scottish terrestrial breeding birds showed that all farmland species have decreased in the past decade.
This year’s NatureScot Terrestrial Breeding Birds Official Statistic report shows that, although pastoral and woodland bird numbers are higher than 1994 levels, all farmland bird levels have decreased over the past 10 years, with arable and wet farmland bird numbers now lower than a decade ago.
Farmland birds need diversity, nesting sites and food sources to sustain them, and these long-term changes in their numbers are caused by intensified agriculture, climate change, reduced diversity of crop types and spring-sown crops.
As Scotland works towards halting biodiversity loss by 2030 and restoring nature by 2045, a collaborative project that is making a difference to farmland species in its local area is Clyde Valley Waders. Consisting of 20 farmers focused on the lapwing (also known as peewit), the project’s field trials have seen 80 percent nesting success compared to the typical 20 percent.
The Corn Bunting Recovery Project run by RSPB in partnerships with farmers, land managers and the East Neuk Estates Group has also seen improvements in corn bunting populations in North East Scotland.
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Despite the results for farmland birds, over the past decade, 39 of the 66 terrestrial breeding birds included in the annual report have increased in abundance and 27 have decreased. Overall, most of the 66 bird species saw a major increase from 1994 to the mid-2000s before stabilising or decreasing over the past 15 to 20 years. Urban birds have a more complicated history, dramatically increasing from 1994 by 42% only to decrease from 2005 to 2016.
Upland birds have been declining steadily and are now 19% lower than 1994 levels. Curlew, lapwing, oystercatcher along with upland riverine birds such as dipper, grey wagtail and common sandpiper are all decreasing in population size. They are impacted by land-use change, stream management, forest expansion, climate change and increased nest predation.
NatureScot’s Director of Nature and Climate Change, Stuart MacQuarrie said: “While Scotland’s terrestrial birds on the surface appear to be in a steady state, with urban birds starting to show improvements, we are right to be concerned for the country’s farmland and upland birds. This evidence of a decline in those species makes us all-the-more determined in our efforts to stop biodiversity loss and restore nature and to champion the fantastic collaborative work projects are achieving. Securing a resilient future for these birds is only going to be possible by working together.
“With up to 20% of agricultural land under Agri-Environment Climate Scheme support to manage it in a way that benefits nature and climate, farmers have the frontline knowledge necessary to create better prospects for farmland birds and their livelihoods as a result.”
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