Journal articles: 'Farmland birds'

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Robertson, Jeremy, and Åke Berg. "Status and population changes of farmland birds in southern Sweden." Ornis Svecica 2, no. 3–4 (October 1, 1992): 119–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.34080/os.v2.23054.

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Since 1950 there have been considerable changes in the use of Swedish farmland which have led to a more large-scale, homogeneous and intensively managed agricultural landscape. These changes in Swedish farmland have affected the populations of many farmland birds. We give the densities of 29 selected farmland birds and 15 selected species of forest birds at eight large study sites (farmland landscapes of 14.5–21.5 km2 size; total of 140 km2) in southern Sweden and review the population changes of 48 species of farmland birds in southern Sweden. The number of breeding farmland bird species at the different sites was positively correlated with total farmland area, area of scrub and trivial deciduous forest, as well as with the fragmentation of the forest landscape; there were more farmland species in fine-grained than in coarse-grained landscapes. Species found in forest edges and dry pastures were the most widespread ones (found at most sites), and included several species with high densities. Most of these species have not decreased as dramatically as other species. Several species of arable land were also widespread, but most of them have declined in numbers since 1950, possibly as a consequence of changes in farming practices. Meadow is the farmland habitat that has declined most, and this is reflected in the low densities and scattered distribution of many species found on cut or grazed meadows. Several of these species are now largely confined to marginal habitats and areas where farmland still has a traditional structure. However, on abandoned meadows overgrown with bushes and trees a few successful colonists are increasing in numbers. Of the 48 farmland birds breeding in Sweden the populations of only 10 have remained relatively stable since 1950; seventeen have increased (8 markedly) while 21 have decreased (12 markedly). Of the 21 species that primarily breed on farmland, 9 (43%) have declined markedly compared with only 3 (11%) of the 27 secondary farmland birds, which have a large proportion of the population in other habitats. Similarly, only 5% of the primary species have increased markedly compared with 26% of the secondary species. More primary than secondary farmland species are also extinct, or categorized as endangered, vulnerable or requiring consideration on Swedish Red Data lists. Large parts of the Swedish farmland are now being taken out of production, which probably will have negative effects on several farmland bird populations.

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He, Mengxuan, Ziling Dai, Xunqiang Mo, Zhengwang Zhang, Jin Liu, Weipan Lei, Weiqing Meng, Beibei Hu, and Wenbin Xu. "Annual Dynamics of Bird Community at a Coastal Wetland and Their Relation to Habitat Types: The Example of Beidagang Wetland, Northern China." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 11, no. 2 (February 3, 2023): 342. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jmse11020342.

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In order to provide more scientific guidance for wetland bird protection, this study addressed the dynamics of the bird community sorted by ecotypes, classifications and threat categories from 2015 to 2019, and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis, generalized additive models and the Mantel test were used to examine the relationships between bird communities and habitat types. The results showed that: (1) The abundance of birds peaked in 2017 at 88,258 individuals and then declined. Moreover, there was an inverse trend between species richness and abundance of birds, meaning greater abundance is associated with fewer species. (2) Swimming birds were dominant ecotypes and Anseriformes possessed the highest abundance. It was noteworthy that the abundance of critically endangered birds (Aythya baeri and Grus leucogeranus) and the species richness of endangered birds increased. (3) Building land and farmland had dominant impacts on the composition of bird community. Wading birds and birds in Gruiformes were significantly impacted by building land and farmland, and near threatened species were substantially influenced by farmland. Therefore, maintaining good connectivity between protected areas and surrounding areas is one of the best ways to effectively manage biodiversity of the target area. This research may provide a broader insight for coastal wetland bird habitat management and bird diversity preservation.

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Morelli, Federico. "Quantifying Effects of Spatial Heterogeneity of Farmlands on Bird Species Richness by Means of Similarity Index Pairwise." International Journal of Biodiversity 2013 (May 23, 2013): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/914837.

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Many studies have shown how intensification of farming is the main cause of loss biodiversity in these environments. During the last decades, agroecosystems in Europe have changed drastically, mainly due to mechanization of agriculture. In this work, species richness in bird communities was examined on a gradient of spatial heterogeneity of farmlands, in order to quantify its effects. Four categories of farmland spatial heterogeneity were defined, based on landscape and landuse parameters. The impact of features increasing the spatial heterogeneity was quantified comparing the similarity indexes between bird communities in several farmlands of Central Italy. The effects of environmental variables on bird richness were analyzed using GLM. The results highlighted that landscape features surrogates of high nature values (HNVs) of farmlands can increase more than 50% the bird species richness. The features more related to bird richness were hedgerows, scattered shrubs, uncultivated patches, and powerlines. The results confirm that the approach based on HNV for evaluating the farmlands is also suitable in order to study birds’ diversity. However, some species are more sensitive to heterogeneity, while other species occupy mainly homogeneous farmlands. As a consequence, different conservation methods must be considered for each farmland bird species.

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Buckingham, D. L., and W. J. Peach. "The influence of livestock management on habitat quality for farmland birds." Animal Science 81, no. 2 (October 2005): 199–203. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/asc50700199.

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AbstractAbstract This review covers research linking foraging habitat quality for birds to livestock management in lowland farmland. Based on this research we propose a framework for predicting the value of grazing systems to birds. This predictive framework is needed to guide the development of agri-environment measures to address farmland bird declines in pastoral areas. We show that the exacting requirements of declining granivorous birds pose the greatest challenges, while the needs of soil invertebrate feeding species are more easily met.

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Guerrero, Santiago. "Farmland Birds under Pressure." EuroChoices 17, no. 3 (December 2018): 24–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1746-692x.12204.

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Dieterich, Martin. "Conservation and Farmland Birds." Conservation Biology 24, no. 4 (February 4, 2010): 1165–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01545.x.

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Budka, Michał, Marek Jobda, Paweł Szałański, and Hubert Piórkowski. "Acoustic approach as an alternative to human-based survey in bird biodiversity monitoring in agricultural meadows." PLOS ONE 17, no. 4 (April 8, 2022): e0266557. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266557.

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Acoustic monitoring has been tested as an alternative to the traditional, human-based approach of surveying birds, however studies examining the effectiveness of different acoustic methods sometimes yield inconsistent results. In this study we examined whether bird biodiversity estimated by traditional surveys of birds differs to that obtained through soundscape surveys in meadow habitats that are of special agricultural importance, and whether acoustic monitoring can deliver reliable indicators of meadows and farmland bird biodiversity. We recorded soundscape and simultaneously surveyed birds by highly skilled human-observers within a fixed (50 m and 100 m) and unlimited radius using the point-count method twice in the breeding season at 74 recording sites located in meadows, in order to compare differences in (1) bird biodiversity estimation of meadow, farmland, songbird, and all bird species and (2) the detection rate of single bird species by these two methods. We found that recorders detected more species in comparison to the human-observers who surveyed birds within a fixed radius (50 and 100 m) and fewer when detection distance for human-observers was unlimited. We did not find significant differences in the number of meadow and farmland bird species detected by recorders and observers within a 100 m radius–the most often used fixed radius in traditional human based point-counts. We also showed how detection rate of 48 the most common bird species in our study differ between these two methods. Our study showed that an acoustic survey is equally effective as human observers surveying birds within a 100 m radius in estimation of farmland and meadow bird biodiversity. These groups of species are important for agricultural landscape and commonly used as indicators of habitat quality and its changes. Even though recorders rarely detect species that remain mostly silent during the observation periods, or species that are further distant than 100 m away, we recommend using acoustic soundscape recording methods as an equally effective and more easily standardised alternative for monitoring of farmland and meadow bird biodiversity. We propose adaptation of acoustic approach to long-term, large-scale monitoring by collecting acoustic data by non-specialists, including landowners and volunteers, and analysing them in a standardised way by units supervising monitoring of agriculture landscape.

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Kopij, G. "Avian assemblages in lowland and foothill agro-ecosystem in Lesotho." Acta Biologica Sibirica 4, no. 4 (December 22, 2018): 81–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.14258/abs.v4.i4.4879.

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During the years 1996-2001, the line transect method has been employed to assess the species composition, dominance structure and relative abundance of birds resident in traditional farmlands, in the lowlands (10 transects with the total length of 43.9 km) and foothills (10 transects with the total length of transects 46.5 km) of Lesotho, southern Africa. This has been done to show the role of this farming in biodiversity conservation. A total of 76 resident species have been recorded in farmlands of Lesotho, 62 species in the lowlands and 53 species in the foothills. In the lowland farmlands the dominant group was composed of 6 species, namely the Prinia, Cape Bunting, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Cape Canary, Neddicky and Common Quail (35.8 %); in the foothills the group was composed 5 species: Karoo Prinia, Cape-turtle Dove, Laughing Dove, Cape Bunting and Cape Canary (35.9 %). Eighteen species bred in significantly different densities in lowlands and foothills. While insectivorous birds were more numerous in the lowland than foothill, the reverse was true with granivorous birds. Those two guilds comprised together 78% and 83% in the lowland and foothill respectively. The proportion of species in each guild was similar. In the lowland farmland the following eight species were more common that in the foothill farmlands, while in foothill farmland 10 species were more numerous than in lowland farmland. Species diversity and evenness were strikingly high and similar in lowlands and foothills, although Sorensen Similarity Index between these two areas was low (I = 0.44). Both species diversity and structure of dominance in avian communities in Lesotho farmlands indicate that the traditional farming play a positive role in biodiversity conservation.

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SANTOS, TOMÁS, ROBERTO CARBONELL, AITOR GALARZA, JAVIER PÉREZ-TRIS, ÁLVARO RAMÍREZ, and JOSÉ LUIS TELLERÍA. "The importance of northern Spanish farmland for wintering migratory passerines: a quantitative assessment." Bird Conservation International 24, no. 1 (June 3, 2013): 1–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0959270913000191.

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SummaryMigratory birds are critically dependent on adequate wintering habitats for their long-term survival. Cantabrian farmland, a mixed agricultural landscape extending across the coastal lowlands of northern Spain, constitutes an important wintering area for many short-distance migrants coming from central-western and northern Europe. Unfortunately, the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union and national afforestation schemes have resulted in a massive replacement of farmland by pinePinusspp. and eucalyptEucalyptussp. plantations. This work assesses the importance of Cantabrian farmland as wintering grounds for short-distance European migrants and for wintering species that originate in nearby woodlands. We examined the seasonal changes in passerine bird populations in the Cantabrian region and used winter ringing recoveries obtained in the area to evaluate the contribution made by European migrants to winter populations. Bird communities were surveyed along 299 500-m long transects distributed between 67 farmland patches, 67 lowland forests and 14 upland forests. Winter assemblages were more diverse and species more abundant in farmland than in lowland or upland forests, whereas these differences were smaller in the spring. Bird numbers in farmland tripled in winter, numbers increasing by about 6.9 million birds compared to breeding populations. Most of this increase was accounted for by species that also bred in the region and that considerably increased their abundance (65.6% of all wintering birds, with the ChaffinchFringilla coelebsresponsible for 31.4% of the total increase) and by five exclusively wintering species (34.4%, with the Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisaccounting for 25.2% of the total increase). The main bulk of this increase is caused by the influx of European migrants. The importance of halting the current spread of eucalypt plantations (which increased over 400% over the past 30 years) and of applying more effective agri-environment schemes to achieve appropriate farmland conservation is discussed.

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Traba, Juan, and Cristian Pérez-Granados. "Extensive sheep grazing is associated with trends in steppe birds in Spain: recommendations for the Common Agricultural Policy." PeerJ 10 (February 28, 2022): e12870. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12870.

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Iberian natural steppes have traditionally been used for extensive sheep grazing, which has been noted to be positively associated with steppe bird abundance and diversity. Sheep numbers in Spain, which harbors the largest European populations of many steppe bird species, decreased by 9.2 million (37.3%) between 1992 and 2020. Steppe birds in Spain have faced dramatic declines during the same period, but there is a lack of knowledge about the potential association between sheep and open-habitat bird declines. We used sheep data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and bird data (1998–2018) from the Spanish Common Bird Monitoring Program to assess the association at the Spanish scale between sheep decline and the Farmland Bird Index (FBI) and the Natural Shrub-steppe Bird Index (SBI). We also used an independent dataset on population trends of the Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti) to assess the relationship between sheep numbers and the decline of this threatened steppe specialist passerine in Spain, whose European population is restricted to Iberian natural steppes. To test for a spurious relationship between temporal series, variables were tested for cointegration. After confirming cointegration, we found a strong positive relationship between sheep abundance and the trends of the FBI and SBI indices during the period 1998–2018. The association between sheep abundance and trends of the Dupont’s Lark (2004–2015) was positive although it was not statistically significant. Although the main causes of decline of farmland and steppe birds are mainly related to agricultural intensification and land use changes, the correlation found, using two independent cointegrated datasets, between the reduction in farmland and shrub-steppe birds and sheep numbers at the country scale suggests that the decline of steppe birds in Spain may be also associated with the decline in sheep numbers. This agrees with previous studies that found a positive relationship between intermediate levels of sheep grazing and steppe bird abundance in Iberian steppes. Further research (e.g. experimental studies) is needed to corroborate our study and identify the most appropriate level of grazing intensity for protecting the most farmland and shrub-steppe birds. Our results suggest that the promotion of extensive grazing should be considered as a key factor in future Common Agricultural Policy reforms and conservation programmes to protect steppe birds.

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Voudouri, Aikaterini, Evgenia Chaideftou, and Athanassios Sfougaris. "Topsoil Seed Bank as Feeding Ground for Farmland Birds: A Comparative Assessment in Agricultural Habitats." Land 10, no. 9 (September 14, 2021): 967. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/land10090967.

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The topsoil seed bank was studied in four types of agricultural bird habitats: fields with cereals, maize, clover and tilled fields of a Mediterranean plain to determine the potentially richest habitat based on food supply for the wintering farmland birds. The diversity and abundance of topsoil seeds differed between seasons but did not differ significantly between habitats. The cereal habitat was the richest in food supply for the overwintering of farmland birds. The topsoil seed bank was dominated by Chenopodium album, Polygonum aviculare and Amaranthus retroflexus. The findings of this study provide insight for low-intensity management of higher-elevation mount agricultural areas of southern Mediterranean by preserving seed-rich habitats for farmland avifauna.

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Little, R. M. "Farmland Birds across the World." Ostrich 81, no. 2 (July 8, 2010): 171–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2010.494082.

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Habeck, Martina. "Saving Eastern Europe's Farmland Birds." Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 2, no. 2 (March 2004): 62. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3868203.

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Zasadil, Petr, Dušan Romportl, and Jakub Horák. "Disentangling the Roles of Topography, Patch, and Land Use on Conservation Trait Status of Specialist Birds in Marginal Forest Land Use Types." Forests 11, no. 1 (January 14, 2020): 103. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f11010103.

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One of the main questions in ecology and conservation is how organisms are governed and affected by their traits within the context of abiotic gradients. The main question of our study addresses how patch, topography, and land use influence conservation trait status (rarity and red-list index) of birds generally, and of farmland and woodland specialists specifically, in marginal forest landscape types. We sampled birds from 68 traditional fruit orchards existing as remnants of agroforestry within the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic during two consecutive years. We recorded 57 bird species, of which 31 species were forest dwellers and 16 farmland dwellers. Topographical predictors played the most significant role in influencing traits of the bird community as a whole. Farmland bird traits indicated the most balanced values, as they were significantly influenced by all studied predictor sets. Their responses nevertheless differed among the studied traits and also showed a more complex pattern because the values of interaction between some predictor categories were relatively high. Traits of woodland birds were most influenced by the patch configuration. We found that a structurally diversified marginal habitat type of traditional fruit orchards is able to promote a number of specialist species and also reveals important relationships between bird conservation traits and different predictor sets. Researchers should pay more attention to the conservation traits of birds and their interactions with environmental predictors. Furthermore, conservationists should be more attentive to the biodiversity value and sustainable management of traditional fruit orchards.

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Gregory, Richard D., Arco van Strien, Petr Vorisek, Adriaan W. Gmelig Meyling, David G. Noble, Ruud P. B. Foppen, and David W. Gibbons. "Developing indicators for European birds." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 360, no. 1454 (February 28, 2005): 269–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2004.1602.

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The global pledge to deliver ‘a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010’ is echoed in a number of regional and national level targets. There is broad consensus, however, that in the absence of conservation action, biodiversity will continue to be lost at a rate unprecedented in the recent era. Remarkably, we lack a basic system to measure progress towards these targets and, in particular, we lack standard measures of biodiversity and procedures to construct and assess summary statistics. Here, we develop a simple classification of biodiversity indicators to assist their development and clarify purpose. We use European birds, as example taxa, to show how robust indicators can be constructed and how they can be interpreted. We have developed statistical methods to calculate supranational, multi-species indices using population data from national annual breeding bird surveys in Europe. Skilled volunteers using standardized field methods undertake data collection where methods and survey designs differ slightly across countries. Survey plots tend to be widely distributed at a national level, covering many bird species and habitats with reasonable representation. National species' indices are calculated using log-linear regression, which allows for plot turnover. Supranational species' indices are constructed by combining the national species' indices weighted by national population sizes of each species. Supranational, multi-species indicators are calculated by averaging the resulting indices. We show that common farmland birds in Europe have declined steeply over the last two decades, whereas woodland birds have not. Evidence elsewhere shows that the main driver of farmland bird declines is increased agricultural intensification. We argue that the farmland bird indicator is a useful surrogate for trends in other elements of biodiversity in this habitat.

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KORNER, PIUS, ROMAN GRAF, and LUKAS JENNI. "Large changes in the avifauna in an extant hotspot of farmland biodiversity in the Alps." Bird Conservation International 28, no. 2 (July 25, 2017): 263–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0959270916000502.

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SummaryLarge declines of farmland bird species have been observed in the lowlands of Western Europe, whereas important populations of some of these species have survived in parts of Eastern and Southern Europe and in small areas within Western Europe, e.g. in parts of the Alps. However, such extant hotspots of farmland biodiversity are at risk: The economic and technical developments threaten to erode biodiversity in existing hotspots, potentially repeating the collapse previously observed in Western Europe. We here present changes in the abundance of farmland birds in the Engadin in the Swiss Alps. Farmland birds such as WhinchatSaxicola rubetraand SkylarkAlauda arvensiswere still numerous in 1987/1988 when we first censused the area. During our second census period in 2009/2010, we noticed strong declines of such open country species, while several hedge and tree breeders as well as some species preferring warmer climate increased. We observed a good correlation between the change in the vegetation and in the birds. Both these changes were especially pronounced in areas with a recent agricultural improvement project. Thus, we believe that the change in farmland practices, which affected our mountainous study area much later than the lowlands, and possibly climate change, have led to a profound change in the regional avifauna. Using our data as a case study, we argue that similar, and similarly fast, changes may be on-going or imminent in many other areas with extant important populations of farmland species such as Whinchat and Skylark. Thus, our data add to the repeatedly declared urgency to adjust the advancement of agricultural subsidy systems to better accommodate biodiversity considerations, both in depauperated areas as well as in extant hotspots.

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CARO, JESÚS, MIGUEL DELIBES-MATEOS, ALBA ESTRADA, RUI BORRALHO, LUÍS GORDINHO, LUÍS REINO, PEDRO BEJA, and BEATRIZ ARROYO. "Effects of hunting management on Mediterranean farmland birds." Bird Conservation International 25, no. 2 (October 8, 2014): 166–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0959270914000197.

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SummaryHunting and its associated management have significant costs and benefits for biodiversity conservation, which makes this socio-economic activity highly controversial at both international and regional levels. We investigated relationships between management for small game species (mainly Red-legged Partridges Alectoris rufa and rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus) and both abundance and richness of farmland and scrubland songbirds, raptors and ground-nesting birds, and on the abundance of three species of conservation concern (Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax, Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus and Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus) in southern Portugal farmland. We compared 12 game estates and 12 matching areas with similar sizes and land uses but no game management. Richness and abundance were estimated from fixed point counts, and were related to game regime (managed or unmanaged), habitat characteristics and census period. Our results showed that game management was associated, albeit weakly, with higher abundance of raptors and ground-nesting birds, but no relationship (either positive or negative) was found for other guilds and species. Habitat was generally the most important factor explaining bird species richness and abundance. Our results suggest possibilities for promoting management systems that could maximize both hunting sustainability and conservation value of managed areas, particularly when management helps to improve or maintain beneficial habitats or practices for farmland birds.

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Schifferli, Luc. "Birds Breeding in a Changing Farmland*." Acta Ornithologica 36, no. 1 (July 2001): 35–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.3161/068.036.0112.

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Girard, J., A. Baril, P. Mineau, and L. Fahrig. "Foraging habitat and diet of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) nesting in farmland: a stable isotope approach." Canadian Journal of Zoology 90, no. 11 (November 2012): 1339–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z2012-103.

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Agricultural intensification has been linked to declines in farmland and grassland bird populations in Europe and in North America. One factor thought to be behind these declines is reduced invertebrate food abundance in the breeding season, leading to reduced reproductive success. However, little is known about foraging habitat or diet of farmland birds in North America. We used stable isotopes to study foraging habitat and diet of Song Sparrows ( Melospiza melodia (A. Wilson, 1810)), a common hedgerow-breeding bird, by collecting claw clippings of Song Sparrow nestlings from farms in eastern Ontario, Canada. Mean values of δ13C and δ15N were compared between claws and invertebrate food sources from adjacent land-cover types, using a Bayesian mixing model. The portion of nestling diet that came from seminatural and forage habitats was higher than expected, based on the proportion of seminatural and forage cover at the nest. This was particularly evident at nests with low seminatural cover, where hedgerows were the only noncrop habitat. The most important food sources for Song Sparrow nestlings were hoppers (Auchenorrhyncha) and caterpillars (Lepidoptera). Management actions to increase invertebrate abundance in hedgerows may benefit Song Sparrows and other farmland birds with minimal impact on crop yield.

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Broughton, Richard K., James M. Bullock, Charles George, France Gerard, Marta Maziarz, Wesley E. Payne, Paul A. Scholefield, Daniel Wade, and Richard F. Pywell. "Slow development of woodland vegetation and bird communities during 33 years of passive rewilding in open farmland." PLOS ONE 17, no. 11 (November 11, 2022): e0277545. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277545.

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Passive rewilding is a potential tool for expanding woodland cover and restoring biodiversity by abandoning land management and allowing natural vegetation succession to occur. Land can be abandoned to passive rewilding deliberately or due to socio-economic change. Despite abandonment being a major driver of land use change, few have studied the long-term outcomes for vegetation and biodiversity in Western Europe. Studies are also biased towards sites that are close to seed sources and favourable to woodland colonisation. In this case-study, we reconstruct a time series of passive rewilding over 33 years on 25 ha of former farmland that had been subject to soil tipping, far from woodland seed sources. Natural colonisation by shrubs and trees was surveyed at three points during the time series, using field mapping and lidar. Breeding birds were surveyed at three time points, and compared with surveys from nearby farmland. Results showed that natural colonisation of woody vegetation was slow, with open grassland dominating the old fields for two decades, and small wetlands developing spontaneously. After 33 years, thorny shrub thickets covered 53% of the site and former hedgerows became subsumed or degraded, but trees remained scarce. However, the resulting habitat mosaic of shrubland, grassland and wetland supported a locally distinctive bird community. Farmland bird species declined as passive rewilding progressed, but this was countered by relatively more wetland birds and an increase in woodland birds, particularly songbirds, compared to nearby farmland. Alongside biodiversity benefits, shrubland establishment by passive rewilding could potentially provide ecosystem services via abundant blossom resources for pollinators, and recreation and berry-gathering opportunities for people. Although closed-canopy woodland remained a distant prospect even after 33 years, the habitat mosaic arising from passive rewilding could be considered a valuable outcome, which could contribute to nature recovery and provision of ecosystem services.

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LÓPEZ-JAMAR, JUAN, FABIÁN CASAS, MARIO DÍAZ, and MANUEL B. MORALES. "Local differences in habitat selection by Great Bustards Otis tarda in changing agricultural landscapes: implications for farmland bird conservation." Bird Conservation International 21, no. 3 (November 3, 2010): 328–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0959270910000535.

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SummaryLocal changes in land use can influence patterns of habitat selection by farmland birds, thus biasing predictions of population responses to land use changes based on wildlife-habitat or niche modelling. This study, based in arable farmland in south-central Spain, determined whether habitat selection (use of agricultural habitats and the distance to roads, tracks and buildings) by Great Bustards Otis tarda varied between two nearby areas with differing land uses. The western sector has experienced a process of land abandonment and infrastructure development linked to an airport project that started in 1998 and finished in 2009, while the eastern sector maintains extensive dry farmland systems. Great Bustards avoided ploughed fields and selected short- and long-term fallows. Selection of fallows was more intensive in the sector suffering recent land-use changes, where these substrates were more abundant. Great Bustards were distributed further from roads, paths and buildings than would be expected if individual birds selected habitats at random. Avoidance of infrastructure was strongest in the area suffering recent land-use changes. Local patterns of habitat selection seemed to change in relation to agricultural abandonment and infrastructure development. Consequently, conservation measures based on knowledge of broad patterns of habitat use and selection such as agri-environmental schemes may fail to ensure steppe bird conservation locally if such local effects are overlooked. Specifically, schemes should include landscape-scale restrictions on the development and use of infrastructure (roads, tracks and buildings). Analyses of the patterns and causes of local and regional changes in habitat selection are essential to conserve populations of endangered farmland birds.

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Rösch, Verena, Gina Hafner, Jo Marie Reiff, and Martin H. Entling. "Increase in breeding bird abundance and diversity with semi-natural habitat in vineyard landscapes." PLOS ONE 18, no. 8 (August 21, 2023): e0284254. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284254.

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Agricultural expansion and intensification are major threats to biodiversity, and even some once common farmland bird species are now endangered. Wine-growing landscapes are intensively managed but can still be an attractive habitat for a wide range of species. However, only few bird species breed within vineyards and thus, semi-natural habitat types like hedges, woodland patches and grasslands are crucial for bird populations. We investigated how birds breeding in wine-growing areas are influenced by the surrounding landscape at three spatial scales: territories, sampling transects and landscapes. In the German wine growing region Palatinate, sixteen landscapes with a radius of 500 m were chosen spanning a gradient in the cover of semi-natural habitat. Bird territories were mapped along three transects of 500 m length in each landscape. We found 300 territories of 33 bird species. Positive effects of semi-natural habitat cover on birds were strongest at the transect scale, with almost proportional increase of species and territory numbers with the cover of semi-natural habitat. Most bird species selected territories that contained more semi-natural habitat than the landscape-wide average of 13.5%, but e.g. woodlark and linnet showed an opposite preference. In addition, the birds’ community composition was influenced by the composition of the surrounding landscape. Most species were associated with semi-natural habitat types or built-up areas while vineyards had hardly any species associated with them. Our results suggest that in wine-growing landscapes, the decline in farmland birds can be reversed by the re-establishment of hedges, trees, woodland patches, traditional orchards and grassland areas. However, as preferences at the territory scale were species-specific, there is no uniform best solution for bird conservation in viticultural landscapes. Thus, landscape development should always be accompanied by experts that take the demands of existing and potential breeding birds into account.

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Priya Gaur, Praveer Pandey, Pramila Kori, and Santosh Gaherwal. "Study on diel variation and effect of anthropogenic activities on birds." GSC Advanced Research and Reviews 11, no. 1 (April 30, 2022): 021–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.30574/gscarr.2022.11.1.0087.

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Background: It has been claimed that the turndown of insect population due to strengthening agriculture may have led to a reduction in the number of farmland birds some autecological studies support this postulate. Insect abundance is significantly associated with bird density measures large scale invertebrate sampling was done using suction traps and results showed that with time as food quality and quantity changes there is a decline in farmland birds. Method: The study was conducted for a period of one year, point count method was adopted to record these parameters. Relevant field guides were used to identify observed bird and insect species. Several avian species were seen preying on several insects. Such instances were listed and we also concluded about the insectivorous nature of several avian species based on sightings. Results: In all the four sites collectively, order Lepidoptera of Insect fauna is dominant in all the four study sites. Several anthropogenic stresses were reported in the present study, these activities should be checked regularly and must be prohibited. During three time slots, the activity of birds was recorded and family wise bird activity were observed. Results showed that there were few species common in all the three-time slots and some disparity was recorded in their availability in the morning, noon, and evening respectively.

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SICURELLA, BEATRICE, VALERIO ORIOLI, GUIDO PINOLI, ROBERTO AMBROSINI, and LUCIANO BANI. "Effectiveness of the system of protected areas of Lombardy (Northern Italy) in preserving breeding birds." Bird Conservation International 28, no. 3 (July 25, 2017): 475–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095927091700017x.

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SummaryNetworks of protected areas (PAs) where human activities are allowed at different degrees are fundamental to ensure the long-term conservation of biological diversity and ecological processes. However, studies aimed at assessing their effectiveness, focusing on several species simultaneously are scarce. We assessed the effectiveness of the system of protected areas (PAs) of Lombardy, Northern Italy, in conserving bird populations by comparing the changes from 1992 to 2013 in the occurrence of 54 breeding bird species censused in areas classified in different protection categories, namely Nature Reserves (NRs), areas designed predominantly for the protection of nature; Regional Parks (RPs), naturally valuable areas where human activities, including intensive agriculture, are allowed; and non-protected areas (NPAs). Overall, occurrence of common birds increased in Lombardy in the last 20 years and farmland and long-distance migrants (LDMs), which suffered sharp declines at a continental scale, showed stable and increasing trends, respectively. These trends were, however, the balance between those of species whose occurrence markedly increased, and those of species that dramatically declined. Species occurred more often in PAs than in NPAs, while temporal trends in occurrence were significantly more positive in RPs than in both NRs and NPAs. Hence, PAs seemed effective in preserving common bird communities. Occurrence of woodland and short-distance migrant species was higher in PAs than in NPAs, while occurrence of farmland species and LDMs was similar in all protection categories. PAs of Lombardy appear therefore effective only in protecting some categories of birds. Farmland and LDM birds would benefit more from ecologically sustainable land-use policies aiming at improving agro-ecosystem biodiversity than from protected areas.

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Szép, Tibor, Károly Nagy, Zsolt Nagy, and Gergő Halmo. "Population trends of common breeding and wintering birds in Hungary, decline of longdistance migrant and farmland birds during 1999–2012." Ornis Hungarica 20, no. 2 (December 1, 2012): 13–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2013-0007.

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Abstract Based on the Hungarian common bird monitoring scheme (MMM), which is the longest running country-wide monitoring using formal sampling design with representative data for the main habitats in Central-Eastern Europe, we investigated the population trends of common breeding and wintering species. Habitat preference and occupancy of the common breeders, migration strategies and relationships among these characteristics could act behind the population trends. We pointed out that long distance migrant bird species had strong decreasing trends in Hungary and very probably in the entire Pannonian biogeographical region, whereas the partial and short migrant species has increasing trends. Farmland birds had declining trend, which trend became more obvious since the joining of Hungary to the EU. The negative changes in the farmland habitat could influence bird species nesting/foraging mainly in this habitat independently from their migration strategies. Our investigations let us to develop indicators on the basis of migration strategy and habitat usage of common birds to provide regular information about condition of groups of species and their habitats in Hungary and the Pannonian region. The MMM database provide unique opportunity for further investigations of several species, habitats and area specific in a part of Europe where this kind of information is rare yet.

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Atkinson, Philip W., Richard A. Fuller, Simon Gillings, and Juliet A. Vickery. "Counting birds on farmland habitats in winter." Bird Study 53, no. 3 (November 2006): 303–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00063650609461446.

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Whittingham, Mark J., John R. Krebs, Ruth D. Swetnam, Richard M. Thewlis, Jeremy D. Wilson, and Robert P. Freckleton. "Habitat associations of British breeding farmland birds." Bird Study 56, no. 1 (March 2009): 43–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00063650802648150.

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Šálek, Martin, and Michał Żmihorski. "Manure heaps attract farmland birds during winter." Bird Study 65, no. 3 (July 3, 2018): 426–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2018.1513989.

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Ariunjargal, G., and Yang Guisheng. "Diversity of bird community in Hohhot." Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 11, no. 2 (November 25, 2014): 159–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjas.v11i2.240.

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The article contains research on avifauna compliment, numeral and bird distribution which depend on differentiation of habitat and seasons in Hohhot for last year. A bird is one of the important species of vertebrates which has an essential role on ecological balance and biological control. Having diversity of birds is the main composition of biological diversity. Bird community structure is determined by relationship of bird’s species and general correlation of birds and environment. Diversity of bird community structure has direct correlation of its species, bird community numeral and habitat. Also it depends on geographical factor, habitat, diversity of plant community, plant vertical structure, food resource, possibility of shelter and other factors. Therefore, bird species become a very valuable indicator for ecological condition of the city and environmental ecological quality. We have divided the areas around Hohhot, Inner Mongolia into 6 different habitats such as grassland, farmland, residential area, woodland, wetland and garbage dump. We have performed the bird fundamental study, and investigated bird flora, ecology, distribution, diversity, environment, and community structure in different habitats and seasons. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5564/mjas.v11i2.240 Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.11(2) 2013 pp.159-165

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Eshiamwata, G. W., D. G. Berens, B. Bleher, W. R. J. Dean, and K. Böhning-Gaese. "Bird assemblages in isolated Ficus trees in Kenyan farmland." Journal of Tropical Ecology 22, no. 6 (October 20, 2006): 723–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467406003646.

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Over the last few decades a rapid and extensive conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land has taken place resulting in mosaics of fragmented forest patches, pastures and farmland. While the effects of forest fragmentation on biodiversity have been intensively studied within the remaining forests, relatively little is known about the biodiversity in tropical farmland (Daily et al. 2001, Pimentel et al. 1992). Frugivorous birds are an important group of species in tropical farmland ecosystems. Frugivorous birds are significant seed dispersers and can play a prominent role in transporting seeds into disturbed areas and setting the stage for the regeneration of these systems. Isolated fleshy-fruited trees in agricultural landscapes have been shown to attract birds, leading to an increased seed rain and seedling establishment under their canopies (Carrière et al. 2002, Duncan & Chapman 1999, Guevara et al. 1986, 2004; Slocum & Horvitz 2000).

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Slabe-Erker, Renata, Marko Ogorevc, Primož Kmecl, and Rok Ciglič. "Effects of the European Common Agricultural Policy on Preserving Biodiversity: Farmland Birds in Slovenia." European Countryside 11, no. 3 (September 1, 2019): 281–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/euco-2019-0018.

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Abstract This paper assesses the effects of agricultural payments on changes in farmland bird diversity in Slovenia. Diversity was measured by Shannon index, while the impacts were estimated with the first-difference estimator on panel data for municipalities with and without special protection areas for birds. The effects of agricultural payments on farmland biodiversity require that the balance of financial instruments be taken into account when the agricultural policy is being drafted. The effects of payments in municipalities with and without special protection areas indicate the need to consider the landscape perspective and adapt schemes to landscape type while preparing the national agricultural policy.

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Sacchi, Roberto, Augusto Gentilli, Edoardo Razzetti, and Francesco Barbieri. "Effects of building features on density and flock distribution of feral pigeons Columba livia var. domestica in an urban environment." Canadian Journal of Zoology 80, no. 1 (January 1, 2002): 48–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z01-202.

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We censused feral pigeons (Columba livia) living in Milan, Italy (a 181-km2 area), between July 1999 and February 2000 by means of linear transects to examine population densities in different urban habitats and the relationships between population density and structural features of buildings. The pigeon population of Milan was 103 650 birds, with an average density of 570/km2. Population density increased significantly from farmland (434 birds/km2) to the suburbs (604 birds/km2) and from the suburbs to the centre of the city (2083 birds/km2). There was a positive relationship between both bird number and flock number and the abundance of buildings constructed before 1936. There were no significant associations between either bird number or flock number and the abundance of buildings when we did not consider date of construction. This indicated active selection of old buildings by feral pigeons.

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Kwieciński, Zbigniew, Federico Morelli, Marcin Antczak, Martin Hromada, Paweł Szymański, Marcin Tobolka, Łukasz Jankowiak, and Piotr Tryjanowski. "Seasonal changes in avian communities living in an extensively used farmland of Western Poland." European Journal of Ecology 2, no. 2 (December 1, 2016): 9–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/eje-2016-0012.

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Abstract To study the seasonal changes in avian communities, we collected data in an extensively used farmland in Western Poland during 2006-2013. Generalized additive mixed models were used in order to study the effects of seasonality and protected areas on the overall bird species richness. A similarity percentage analysis was also conducted in order to identify the species that contribute most strongly to dissimilarity among each bird according to the phenological season. Furthermore, the differences in bird communities were investigated applying the decomposition of the species richness in season, trend, and remainder components. Each season showed significant differences in bird species richness (seasonality effect). The effect of the protected areas was slightly positive on the overall species richness for all seasons. However, an overall negative trend was detected for the entire period of eight years. The bird community composition was different among seasons, showing differences in terms of dominant species. Greater differences were found between breeding and wintering seasons, in particular, the spatial pattern of sites with higher bird richness (hotspots) were different between breeding and wintering seasons. Our findings showed a negative trend in bird species richness verified in the Polish farmlands from 2006. This result mirrors the same negative trend already highlighted for Western Europe. The role of protected areas, even if slightly positive, was not enough to mitigate this decline process. Therefore, to effectively protect farmland birds, it is necessary to also consider inter-seasons variation, and for this, we suggest the use of medium-term temporal studies on bird communities’ trends.

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Kaczmarek, Jan M., and Piotr Tryjanowski. "Second generation energy crops and farmland birds – Central and East European perspective." Journal of Plant Protection Research 56, no. 3 (July 1, 2016): 211–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/jppr-2016-0042.

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Abstract The development of cellulosic bioethanol and other second-generation (2G) biofuels has gone through various phases during the last few years. The prospect of technological breakthroughs stimulates extensive research on turning cellulose into bioethanol or biodiesel. Agricultural or forestry residues and some plants, referred to as ‘lignocellulosic energy crops’ or ‘second generation (2G) energy crops’ can provide feedstock for new types of biofuels. The impact of lignocellulosic energy crops on farmland birds has been relatively well studied. This is surprising since the technology of converting these crops into fuel has so recently been developed. However, we believe that some questions regarding potential bird use of 2G energy crops have still not been answered. In Europe, most research has been carried out in agricultural areas of Western Europe. However, Central & Eastern Europe host the highest densities of farmland birds and, in general, the highest biodiversity. There is huge potential for 2G energy cropping due to large areas of mainly marginal land. We have outlined possible discrepancies between the results obtained from W. Europe and potential relationships between birds and 2G energy crops in Central Europe.

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Radisic, Dimitrije, Milica Miskovic, Sandra Jovanovic, Tijana Nikolic, Goran Sekulic, Ante Vujic, and Dubravka Milic. "Protected area networks are insufficient for the conservation of threatened farmland species: A case study on corncrake (Crex crex) and lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor) in Serbia." Archives of Biological Sciences 71, no. 1 (2019): 111–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/abs180924053r.

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To conserve threatened farmland species requires an estimate of the representation of their habitats within protected areas, especially in countries with inadequate mechanisms for protecting and managing habitats outside of protected areas. We conducted a gap analysis to evaluate the conservation status of suitable habitats for two threatened farmland bird species - corncrake (Crex crex) and lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor) - within the networks of national protected areas (NPAs) and important bird areas (IBAs) in Serbia. We determined the distribution of suitable habitats using MaxEnt based on climate, topography and land-cover variables. We found that the proportion of suitable habitats within the NPAs is very low (12.31% and 2.04% for the corncrake and lesser grey shrike, respectively), although it is significantly higher for both species within IBAs (25.86% and 9.91%, respectively). Upland farmland habitats (preferred by corncrake) are better represented within both networks (especially IBAs) than lowland habitats (preferred by lesser grey shrike). Our spatially explicit distribution models identify suitable habitats within and beyond the NPAs and IBAs that require monitoring and appropriate conservation measures. The low representation of suitable habitats within these networks is an obstacle to the conservation of both species and other farmland birds in Serbia.

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Auninš, Ainârs, Bo Svenning Petersen, Jânis Priednieks, and Erik Prins. "Relationships Between Birds and Habitats in Latvian Farmland." Acta Ornithologica 36, no. 1 (July 2001): 55–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.3161/068.036.0114.

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Lewis-Phillips, Jonathan, Stephen J. Brooks, Carl D. Sayer, Rachel McCrea, Gavin Siriwardena, Hannah Robson, Anne L. Harrison, and Jan C. Axmacher. "Seasonal benefits of farmland pond management for birds." Bird Study 66, no. 3 (July 3, 2019): 342–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2019.1688762.

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Chamberlain, D. E., A. Joys, P. J. Johnson, L. Norton, R. E. Feber, and R. J. Fuller. "Does organic farming benefit farmland birds in winter?" Biology Letters 6, no. 1 (September 9, 2009): 82–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2009.0643.

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The generally higher biodiversity on organic farms may be influenced by management features such as no synthetic pesticide and fertilizer inputs and/or by differences in uncropped habitat at the site and landscape scale. We analysed bird and habitat data collected on 48 paired organic and conventional farms over two winters to determine the extent to which broad-scale habitat differences between systems could explain overall differences in farmland bird abundance. Density was significantly higher on organic farms for six out of 16 species, and none on conventional. Total abundance of all species combined was higher on organic farms in both years. Analyses using an information-theoretic approach suggested that both habitat extent and farm type were important predictors only for starling and greenfinch. Organic farming as currently practised may not provide significant benefits to those bird species that are limited by winter food resources, in particular, several declining granivores.

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Beecher, Nancy A., Ron J. Johnson, James R. Brandle, Ronald M. Case, and Linda J. Young. "Agroecology of Birds in Organic and Nonorganic Farmland." Conservation Biology 16, no. 6 (December 2002): 1620–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.2002.01228.x.

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GREGORY, RICHARD D., DAVID G. NOBLE, and JOHN CUSTANCE. "The state of play of farmland birds: population trends and conservation status of lowland farmland birds in the United Kingdom." Ibis 146 (November 16, 2004): 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919x.2004.00358.x.

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Harmange, Clément, Vincent Bretagnolle, Nathan Chabaud, Mathieu Sarasa, and Olivier Pays. "Diel cycle in a farmland bird is shaped by contrasting predation and human pressures." Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 134, no. 1 (June 17, 2021): 68–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blab060.

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Abstract In human-dominated landscapes, human disturbances may contrast (spatially and/or temporally) with risk imposed by non-human predators. However, how prey adjust behaviour to minimize risk from multiple threats remains unclear. In Central-Western France, we investigated patterns of activity, space and habitat use, and causes of variations during the diel cycle of the grey partridge (captive-reared, released), a farmland bird facing multiple risks (nocturnal predation, diurnal hunting pressure). We also investigated influence of individual space use, relative to risk-related features on the fate of birds. Birds adjusted their behaviours in ways consistent with the reduction of risk from nocturnal carnivores at night and hunters during daytime. We recorded bimodal crepuscular activity, likely explained by commuting movements between spatially-separated diurnal and nocturnal sites composed of different habitats: selection of open terrains and avoidance of predator reservoirs at night vs. use of high-vegetation cover during daytime. We observed space use differences between surviving, hunted and predated birds. Predation and hunting activities act as contrasting pressures, selecting birds based on their spatial behaviour, which has likely shaped diel adjustments at the population level. An improved consideration of temporal variation in environmental pressures would help to reliably address factors constraining populations, so increasing wildlife management efficiency.

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Kopij, G. "Effect of Farming and Rainfall on the Species Diversity, Population Density and Community Structure of Birds Breeding in the Kalahari Woodland, NE Namibia." Zoodiversity 55, no. 6 (2021): 451–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.15407/zoo2021.06.451.

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The line transect method has been employed to assess species diversity, population densities and community structure of birds breeding in a mosaic of Kalahari Woodland and farmland, NE Namibia. The transect, 4.5 km long, was surveyed in 2014 and 2015. The total annual rainfall in 2014 was much higher than in 2015 (427 mm vs. 262 mm). In total, 40 breeding species in 2014, and 46 in 2015 were recorded. Six species were dominant in 2014 (Cape Turtle Dove, Laughing Dove, Emerald-spotted Dove, Blue Waxbill, and White-browed Scrub Robin) and only three species in 2015 (Cape Turtle Dove and Blue Waxbill and Yellow-fronted Canary). Although the cumulative dominance in 2014 almost doubled that in 2015, the Community Index in both years was almost identical. Also diversity indices and evenness index were very similar in both years compared. Granivorous birds were the most numerous feeding guild. Their contribution was similar in 2014 and 2015 (46.7 % vs. 43.4 %). Two other feeding guilds, insectivores and frugivores, comprised together more than 50 % in both years. The number of bird species and species diversity were not influenced by the differential rainfall. However, contrary to expectations, population densities of most bird species (at least the more numerous ones) were higher in the year with lower than in the year with higher rainfall. The number of species and species diversity was similar in the farmland and in neighbouring Kalahari Woodland in a pristine stage. However, population densities of most species were lower in the farmland than in the pristine woodland.

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BUSCH, MALTE, JAKOB KATZENBERGER, SVEN TRAUTMANN, BETTINA GERLACH, RAINER DRÖSCHMEISTER, and CHRISTOPH SUDFELDT. "Drivers of population change in common farmland birds in Germany." Bird Conservation International 30, no. 3 (January 14, 2020): 335–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0959270919000480.

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SummaryFarmland bird populations in Germany are declining at a higher speed than species inhabiting other habitats. We studied potential causes for bird population changes based on data from standardised German breeding bird monitoring schemes. We related population trends to covariates describing the changes in the agricultural landscape in Germany, weather conditions during the breeding season and for some migratory species, conditions at stopover and wintering sites. Linear mixed effect models were used to analyse effect strength at species level and conclusions are drawn for the overall group of farmland bird species. The area of grassland and fallow land was shown to have the strongest positive effects and the area of maize and rapeseed the strongest negative effects on farmland bird population trends. The results obtained also indicate that despite the consistent influence of weather conditions during the breeding season, land-use changes had a stronger impact on bird populations than weather. Conditions at Sahel wintering sites did not show a consistent effect on population trends. Based on these findings the study quantitatively underpins and ranks key factors shaping farmland bird populations in Germany.

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Hološková, Adriana, Tomáš Kadlec, and Jiří Reif. "Vegetation Structure and Invertebrate Food Availability for Birds in Intensively Used Arable Fields: Evaluation of Three Widespread Crops." Diversity 15, no. 4 (April 4, 2023): 524. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d15040524.

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Arable land covers a large part of the European landscape, and its biodiversity is declining rapidly due to agricultural intensification. Among the most threatened groups of organisms are insectivorous ground-foraging farmland birds. To reverse their decline, it is necessary to understand the impact of agriculture on the factors potentially shaping their populations. This study therefore evaluates the invertebrate food availability and vegetation structure of three widespread crops—wheat, maize and rapeseed—during their breeding. This research took place in Slovakia, the country with the largest average field size in the EU. Wheat overlapped bird habitat preferences for the longest part of their breeding season by vegetation structure, but it also had the most limited food supply due to frequent treatment with insecticides. Maize and rapeseed provided higher invertebrate abundance and biomass, but their stands created unsuitable vegetation structures for farmland bird nesting and foraging over a major part of the breeding season. The food supply improved closer to the field edges, but the birds’ ability to use these benefits could be considerably limited by the large field sizes. Therefore, conservation measures should include reduction of field size and insecticide application to improve the food supply and switch to spring sowing to improve the vegetation structure.

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Pam, Grace Alheri-Bulus, David Zeitlyn, and Andrew Gosler. "Ethno-Ornithology of the Mushere of Nigeria: Children's Knowledge and Perceptions of Birds." Ethnobiology Letters 9, no. 2 (April 25, 2018): 48–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.14237/ebl.9.2.2018.931.

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Mushere children’s ethno-ornithology was surveyed from October to November 2015 to find out their level of bird knowledge—as well as whether and how children valued and learned about birds—in order to determine the potential role such knowledge might play in Mushere biodiversity conservation. Methods included picture elicitation exercises, free-listing, and semi-structured interviews. Our results revealed a limited knowledge of birds in Mushere children, and that bird knowledge was gendered. Girls learned through observation, while boys learned through practical bird-related activities. Learning was mostly horizontal for boys but vertical and/or oblique for girls; the most reported learning mode was through oral tradition. Farmland and garden birds were the most common groups, with birds in the families Columbidae and Estrildidae having the highest salience and frequency of mention. We suggest that this reflects the importance of ecological salience, since both groups are relatively locally abundant. The children also had a limited knowledge of cultural beliefs and uses of the birds, but valued birds as important. We argue that how much children will know and learn about any biological domain will be determined by the cultural attitudes and perceptions of that domain, and the cultural importance attached to it. We conclude that the limited knowledge of birds in Mushere children reflects Mushere cultural indifference (ornithoapatheia) to birds. We suggest that a consistent and deliberate conservation education program that will work towards encouraging ornithophilia, the love of birds, and biophilia, the love of nature, in Mushere children could be beneficial.

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Németh, Tamás Márton. "Agrártájhoz kötődő madárfajok („farmland birds”) állományának változása, helyzete Európában." Magyar Apróvad Közlemények 13 (2017): 143–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.17243/mavk.2017.143.

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Wu, Chen-Fa, Yi-Ting Wu, Szu-Hung Chen, and Luu Van Thong Trac. "Exploring farmland ecology to assess habitat suitability for birds." Ecological Indicators 142 (September 2022): 109244. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109244.

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Lindsay, Kathryn E., David Anthony Kirk, Timothy M. Bergin, Louis B. Best, Jean C. Sifneos, and Jeremy Smith. "Farmland Heterogeneity Benefits Birds in American Mid-west Watersheds." American Midland Naturalist 170, no. 1 (July 2013): 121–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1674/0003-0031-170.1.121.

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Báldi, András, and Péter Batáry. "The past and future of farmland birds in Hungary." Bird Study 58, no. 3 (August 2011): 365–77. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2011.588685.

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Gottschalk, Thomas K., Ralf Dittrich, Tim Diekötter, Patrick Sheridan, Volkmar Wolters, and Klemens Ekschmitt. "Modelling land-use sustainability using farmland birds as indicators." Ecological Indicators 10, no. 1 (January 2010): 15–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.05.008.

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Journal articles on the topic 'Farmland birds'

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