Saving the sky lark: new solutions for a declining farmland bird
-
Published source details
Donald P.F. & Morris T.J. (2005) Saving the sky lark: new solutions for a declining farmland bird. British Birds, 98, 570-578.
Published source details Donald P.F. & Morris T.J. (2005) Saving the sky lark: new solutions for a declining farmland bird. British Birds, 98, 570-578.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
|
Create skylark plots Action Link |
 |
|
|
Create skylark plots for bird conservation Action Link |
 |
-
Create skylark plots
A before-and-after study from 2000 to 2005 in Cambridgeshire, England (Donald & Morris 2005), found that the population of Eurasian skylarks Alauda arvensis on an arable farm increased from 10 territorial males in 2000 to 34 in 2005, following the introduction of skylark plots in 2001 (in addition to 6 m margins around fields and set-aside). Nests were also aggregated in fields with skylark plots. The study also reports that fields on 15 experimental farms with skylark plots had 30% more skylarks than control fields. In addition, nests in fields with skylark plots produced 0.5 more chicks/breeding attempt. Skylark plots 4 x 4 m were established at a density of 2 plots/ha. This study was part of the SAFFIE – Sustainable Arable Farming For an Improved Environment research project.
-
Create skylark plots for bird conservation
A before-and-after study in Cambridgeshire, England (Donald & Morris 2005), found that the population of Eurasian skylarks on an arable farm increased from 10 territorial males in 2000 to 34 in 2005, following the use of skylark plots from 2001 (in addition to 6 m margins around fields and set-aside). Nests were also aggregated in fields with skylark plots. The study also reports that fields on 15 experimental farms with skylark plots held 30% more skylarks than control fields. In addition, nests in fields with plots produced 0.5 more chicks/breeding attempt.
