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2005 BAP reporting -
Emberiza calandra (Corn Bunting)
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Summary
Please give a brief summary (3-4 sentences) of what you consider to be the
take-home messages from your report:
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Corn Bunting continues to decline steeply in England, there are now only remnant populations in Scotland and the species has been extinct in Northern Ireland for over a decade. The small Welsh population has also now gone extinct. The first BAP target, to maintain the population index, has therefore not been achieved. The main threats continue to relate to intensive agriculture and some research knowledge is still required, to fully understand and mitigate against threats from several aspects of intensive agriculture. The unpredictable effects of climate change, CAP reform and WTO negotiations will all need to be carefully monitored. Excellent advances have been made in deploying new, tiered agri-environment schemes in all four countries. Rigorous monitoring of these AES will be essential for evaluating the success of and refining AE options. The achievement of the scope of change needed to hit targets for this species will be largely dependent on the appropriate design, level of funding and sound monitoring of agri-environment schemes, especially HLS in England and RSS in Scotland.
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Status
Please give your most accurate assessment of the status of your species or habitat for the UK and each country.
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Date assessed |
Value |
Units |
Accuracy |
Adequate baseline data? |
Data available via NBN? |
| UK |
2004 |
-24 |
Population index |
Sample or full survey |
Yes |
Unknown |
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Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R. 2005. The Breeding Bird Survey 2004. BTO Research Report 403. BTO, JNCC & RSPB. BTO, Thetford. |
| E |
2004 |
-19 |
Population index |
Sample or full survey |
Yes |
Unknown |
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Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R. 2005. The Breeding Bird Survey 2004. BTO Research Report 403. BTO, JNCC & RSPB. BTO, Thetford. |
| NI |
Not relevant for this country |
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Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R. 2005. The Breeding Bird Survey 2004. BTO Research Report 403. BTO, JNCC & RSPB. BTO, Thetford. |
| S |
Status unknown |
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Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R. 2005. The Breeding Bird Survey 2004. BTO Research Report 403. BTO, JNCC & RSPB. BTO, Thetford. |
| W |
2005 |
0 |
Individuals |
Sample or full survey |
Yes |
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Reg Thorpe (RSPB), pers. comm. |
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Trend in biological status
Please give your best estimate of the current trend for your species or habitat for the UK, and each appropriate country.
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Date assessed |
Trend |
Accuracy |
Adequate baseline data? |
Data available via NBN? |
| UK |
2004 |
Declining (continuing/accelerating) |
Sample or full survey |
Yes |
Unknown |
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Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R. 2005. The Breeding Bird Survey 2004. BTO Research Report 403. BTO, JNCC & RSPB. BTO, Thetford. |
| E |
2004 |
Declining (continuing/accelerating) |
Sample or full survey |
Yes |
Unknown |
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Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R. 2005. The Breeding Bird Survey 2004. BTO Research Report 403. BTO, JNCC & RSPB. BTO, Thetford. |
| NI |
Not relevant for this country |
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Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R. 2005. The Breeding Bird Survey 2004. BTO Research Report 403. BTO, JNCC & RSPB. BTO, Thetford. |
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Status unknown |
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Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R. 2005. The Breeding Bird Survey 2004. BTO Research Report 403. BTO, JNCC & RSPB. BTO, Thetford. |
| W |
Status unknown |
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Raven, M.J., Noble, D.G., Baillie, S.R. 2005. The Breeding Bird Survey 2004. BTO Research Report 403. BTO, JNCC & RSPB. BTO, Thetford. |
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State of knowledge
To what extent is our scientific knowledge of the habitat / species (e.g research information, autecological knowledge, knowledge for effective re-introduction or habitat restoration / re-creation) sufficient to deliver the plan targets?
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| Status of knowledge |
Notes |
| Knowledge sufficient to make some impact, but more research needed |
As for other farmland birds, very good knowledge (through BBS) of population status and trends, allowing good evaluation of progress to targets.
Research has led to identification of several ecological problems for corn buntings (e.g. lack of winter seed food, destruction of late nesting attempts, lack of large invertebrates for feeding chicks in late summer).
Excellent progress in last five years in all countries of the UK in developing and funding agri-environment schemes (though now not strictly relevant to corn bunting in Wales and Northern Irleand), with a range of arable options. Examples of options include overwinter stubbles, unsprayed crops, spring crops, grass margins, fallow margins and wildlife cover crops.
Further research is still needed, and some of this is ongoing by RSPB, to provide solutions to some problems (such as provision of safe nesting habitat in both arable and grass), which are currently not provided for within UK agri-environment schemes. Research is also ongoing to determine the optimal spatial arrangement and scale of winter resource provision (BTO/RSPB/UEA project BD1616 and BTO/RSPB/UEA/CAER project BD 1628).
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Progress on targets
For each of the plan targets please give a qualitative assessment of progress for the UK and each country.
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T1
In the short term, halt or reverse the decline in numbers of the corn bunting by the year 2003 so that the Breeding Bird Survey index is at least at 1996 levels.
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| Target type |
UK value |
Units |
Start date |
End date |
| Maintain population size |
100 |
Population index |
1998 |
2003 |
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Target value |
Current progress |
Status |
Date assessed |
Accuracy of estimate |
| UK |
100 |
76 |
Target not achieved |
2004 |
Sample or full survey |
| E |
100 |
81 |
Target not achieved |
2004 |
Sample or full survey |
| NI |
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This target has been flagged as not applicable for this country |
| S |
100 |
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Unknown |
2004 |
Sample or full survey |
| W |
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Unknown |
2004 |
Sample or full survey |
T2
In the long term see a sustained recovery in numbers so that the BBS index is at least 50% higher than 1996 levels by 2008.
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| Target type |
UK value |
Units |
Start date |
End date |
| Increase population size |
150 |
Population index |
1998 |
2008 |
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No data are available for this national target from the 2005 reporting round.
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T3
Expand the range from that of 1996, as measured by the frequency in random BBS squares, by 2008.
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| Target type |
UK value |
Units |
Start date |
End date |
| Increase range |
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1998 |
2008 |
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No data are available for this national target from the 2005 reporting round.
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Current or emerging threats
Please list the factors which, in the steering group's opinion, currently or are likely to pose a significant threat to the species / habitat over the next 5 years.
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| Threat category 1 |
Threat category 2 |
England |
Northern Ireland |
Scotland |
Wales |
| Habitat loss / degradation - agriculture |
Intensive crop regimes |
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| Habitat loss / degradation - agriculture |
Intensive grassland management |
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| Habitat loss / degradation - agriculture |
Loss of field margins |
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| Pollution - land |
Agricultural (other agro-chemicals) |
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Constraints
Please identify the main obstacles (constraints) to achieving BAP targets, and the solutions for overcoming them.
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| Rank |
Constraint category 1 |
Constraint category 2 |
England |
Northern Ireland |
Scotland |
Wales |
| 2 |
Research, survey and information |
Autecology - poor knowledge |
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Summary: |
More research needed to identify what governs where birds settle to nest. Until this is known, presciptions for safe nesting habitat provision cannot be designed. |
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Solution: |
Category: Research
Further research - this is ongoing (RSPB research).
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Research, survey and information |
Management techniques - research required |
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Summary: |
Lack of testing of management techniques (a) to provide safe nesting sites, (b) to determine how to most efficiently and effectively deliver winter food resources. |
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Solution: |
Category: Research
Research needed. This is ongoing, with projects on (a) testing techniques for providing safe nesting sites in both cereals and grassland (RSPB/EN), and (b) Defra funded work to identify the optimal spatial arrangement and scale of winter resource provision (BTO/RSPB/UEA project BD1616 and BTO/RSPB/UEA/CAER project BD 1628).
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Research, survey and information |
Monitoring surveys required |
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Summary: |
Successful R&D solutions must be made available over large geographic areas through national agri-environment schemes. Though this is now happening, delivery by such schemes must be adequately monitored. |
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Solution: |
Category: Survey/monitoring
Agri-environment schemes need adequate funding and take-up, across wide geographic areas. Options must continue to be science-based and targeted at areas of biodiversity interest. Robust monitoring programmes must be adequately funded to ensure that AESs are delivering the biodiversity towards which they are targeted.
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Links to LBAPs
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a) What do you consider to be the most important contribution that LBAPs could make to meeting the targets of your plan?
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LBAPs can raise awareness of, and enable stakeholder involvement in, agri-environment opportunities and influence local targetting of agri-environment measures. This will all help to make delivery of national targets by AE schemes more efficient and more effective.
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b) Which of the following most accurately describes your interaction with LBAPs, up to now?
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Generic advice to LBAPs on species/habitat needs or appropriate local actions produced/distributed
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c) How has contact with LBAPs changed since 2002 report?
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About the same
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d) If you feel communication between LBAPs and you as a Lead Partner should be improved please indicate how you think this should be achieved.
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Information exchange via UK BAP website
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Information exchange via BARS
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e) Did you refer to LBAP data (using the links provided) in compiling this report?
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Yes
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Successes
Since 2002, have there been key successes in the implementation of your plan that should be drawn to the attention of government, the wider BAP partnership, or the public?
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| Success category 1 |
Success category 2 |
England |
Northern Ireland |
Scotland |
Wales |
| Communication |
Advice to land managers / owners |
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Summary: |
Management guide for birds of lowland farmland published by RSPB.
Direct advice to land-owners by a range of organisations, e.g. as part of RSPB 'volunteer and farmer alliance' and provison of advisory material (e.g. advisory sheets on corn buntings and a range of relevant agri-environment options).
ELS CD produced for land-managers in England, with advice on ELS options to choose to benefit this species.
Training courses for advisors who are developing AE scheme agreements.
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| Communication |
Raised awareness / profile among general public |
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Summary: |
Many press releases, from various organisations, highlighting importance of agri-environment prescriptions for this and other species.
Press releases about corn bunting recovery projects.
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| Funding and incentives |
Agricultural schemes - beneficial changes to structure / payments |
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Summary: |
Agri-environment schemes evolved and now much improved. ELS/HLS deployed in England, RSS in Scotland, and Tir Cynnal/Tir Gofal in Wales.
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| Research, survey and information |
Autecology - improved knowledge |
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Summary: |
Proof of aggregative response to provision of winter food in the forms of direct seed provision (RSPB work) and wild bird cover crops (BTO/GCT).
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| Research, survey and information |
Habitat creation/restoration techniques improved |
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Summary: |
Further understanding of response to agri-environment measures (e.g. in arable stewardship pilot in England [BD 1622], RSS measures in Scotland [RSPB work]). Further trials are being conducted through a bespoke corn bunting recovery scheme (RSPB).
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