Black-necked Grebe LBAP

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	WELCOME TO CHESHIRE BIODIVERSITY PART OF THE CHESHIRE REGION BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP

FARMLAND SEED-EATING BIRDS
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

INCLUDING TREE SPARROW, HOUSE SPARROW, CORN BUNTING, REED BUNTING, YELLOWHAMMER, LINNET, BULLFINCH, SKYLARK, STARLING, LAPWING, SONG THRUSH AND GREY PARTRIDGE

Links to associated HAPs

Cereal Field Margins

Current Status

This action plan covers granivorous farmland birds, which have suffered severe declines since the mid-seventies. The plan will provide a holistic framework from which the practical elements can be delivered to meet the same objectives.

The group of birds this action plan covers are: Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Bullfinch, Skylark, Starling, Lapwing, Song Thrush and Grey Partridge. All of which are seed-eaters during the winter months, however the diet changes in Spring and Summer to invertebrates.

Changes from traditional farming methods, loss of key habitat for both nesting and foraging have contributed to the decline of these bird species the following table shows the population trends of the species covered by the action plan.

Population Trends of Farmland Bird BAP Species - BTO Common Bird Census Data

Species	Population Change 25yr	Population Change 5yr
Grey Partridge	-83%	-29%
Tree Sparrow	-94%	-30%
Linnet	-55%	-23%
Yellowhammer	-56%	-23%
Reed Bunting	-61%	-24%
Skylark	-54%	-11%
Corn Bunting	-86%	-22%
House Sparrow	-51%	-
Starling	-61%
Bullfinch	-56%	-5%

Threats

Changes from traditional farming methods
Loss of key habitat for both nesting and foraging

How are we helping to conserve farmland birds in the Cheshire region?

RSPB Cheshire Lapwing and Skylark Lifeline (01484 861148, free 24 hour service)
Countryside Stewardship Schemes

Objectives, Local Targets and Actions

OBJECTIVES	LOCAL TARGETS
The overall objective is firstly, to stabilise the populations and secondly, to increase the populations of the species of seed eating farmland birds included in this plan. The extent of the increase will vary and depends upon the individual species' biology and the nature of the species decline. However we will need targets to aim for, and for this reason we will look to stabilise the farmland granivorous bird species by 2006, and increase the species listed by 20% by 2010. By this time the long-term plans emerging from Countryside Stewardship programmes should begin to show results.	Targets awaited
ACTIONS REQUIRED
All plots will have a designated farmland bird surveyor assigned to it. Designed monitoring methodology, training field surveyors. Increase winter seed feeding stations. Tree Sparrow breeding monitoring. Work with BASC members to provide appropriate habitat in key areas of the county to increase the population of wild grey partridge. BASC will arrange access to game cover crops on BASC members land over the winter for farmland bird monitoring

Progress so far

2005 Action Completed

BASC have continued to provide access to land via their members to contribute to farmland bird surveys.
FWAG have undertaken site visits to 10 BASC members to provide advice on conservation measures and environmental stewardship.
Four BASC members are currently engaged in the RSPB Operation Tree Sparrow scheme to provide nest boxes and feeding stations for this species.
One BASC member is participating in the RSPB Lapwing and Skylark lifeline scheme by allowing ongoing survey work to be done.
Funds have been provided via the BASC Wildlife Habitat Trust (WHT) to install extra wild bird cover crops aimed at increasing numbers of Grey Partridge. Ongoing brood counts will indicate the success of this scheme.
In a recent BASC survey on the conservation work of their members it was found that 147 tree sparrow boxes had been erected in Cheshire in the last year.

1997-2004 Action Completed

Cheshire Lapwing and Skylark Lifeline (01484 861148, free 24 hour service) set up. This project offers advice to farmers who wish to carry out conservation measures on their farms to benefit two popular and familiar farmland birds, the lapwing and skylark. The advice has an emphasis on low cost or no cost options, it could involve providing support for funding applications, and/or management advice relating to set-aside.
In 2004 BASC secured £40,000 over 5 years from the Wildlife Habitat Trust to work with BASC members to provide appropriate habitat in key areas of the county to increase the population of wild grey partridge.

How to find out more about Farmland Birds

Visit the RSPB website for information on the bullfinch, corn bunting, grey partridge, house sparrow, lapwing, linnet, reed bunting, skylark, song thrush, starling, tree sparrow and yellowhammer
For information on the grey partridge visit The Game Conservancy Trust website at www.gct.org.uk/partridge
UK BAP for Bullfinch - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=542
UK BAP for Corn Bunting - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=457
UK BAP for Grey Partridge - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=506
UK BAP for Linnet - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=188
UK BAP for Reed Bunting - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=279
UK BAP for Skylark - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=80
UK BAP for Song Thrush - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=621
UK BAP for Tree Sparrow - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=503
Vale Royal Borough Council Grey Partridge Species Recording card
Vale Royal Borough Council Lapwing Species Recording card
Vale Royal Borough Council Song Thrush Species Recording card

How can you get involved?

Become a volunteer partridge counter. For further information please see GCT website (above) or contact Neville Kingdon, Partridge Count Coordinator at The Game Conservancy Trust, Fordingbridge, SP6 1EF on 01425 651066.

Contact details

LBAP Chair	Mark Greenhough, BASC Phone: 01244 573000
National Lead Partners	Bullfinch - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Corn Bunting - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and Natural England Grey Partridge - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Game Conservancy Trust Linnet - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Reed Bunting - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Skylark Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Song Thrush - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Tree Sparrow - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
National Contact Points	Bullfinch, Corn Bunting, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Song Thrush and Tree Sparrow - Andy Evans, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Corn Bunting - Phil Grice, Natural England Grey Partridge - Dr Nick W Sotherton, Game Conservancy Trust Phone: 01425 652381

References & Glossary

HMSO (1995) : Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2: Action Plans, London.