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The spoon-billed sandpiper Calidris pygmaea , a migratory Arctic-breeding shorebird, is one of the rarest birds and its population has declined since the 1970s. We surveyed its most important known wintering area in the Upper Gulf of Mottama in Myanmar to estimate recent (2009–2016) changes in its numbers there. The total number of small shorebirds present in the Upper Gulf was counted and the proportion of them that were spoon-billed sandpipers was estimated from sample scans. These two quantities were multiplied together to give the estimated number of spoon-billed sandpipers in each of 4 years. Total numbers of combined small shorebird species tripled from 21,000 to 63,000 between 2009 and 2016, coincident with efforts to reduce hunting pressure on waterbirds. However, the proportion of small shorebirds that were spoon-billed sandpipers declined and their estimated absolute numbers fell by about half, from 244 to 112 individuals. It is probable that loss of intertidal habitat and shorebird hunting elsewhere on the migration route of the spoon-billed sandpipers wintering at Mottama is causing a continued decline, although this is occurring at a less rapid rate than that recorded from Arctic Russia before 2010. The number of spoon-billed sandpipers wintering on the Upper Gulf of Mottama remains the highest single-site total for this species from any known wintering site. Preventing resurgence of illegal shorebird hunting and ensuring long-term protection of the intertidal feeding habitats and roost sites in the Gulf are high priorities if extinction of this species is to be averted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. In the North Sea, sandeels provide a vital food source for breeding seabirds, but are also the target of an industrial fishery. GPS tracking suggests that the most productive fishing grounds overlap with foraging areas of black-legged kittiwakes from eastern England, raising the prospect that the fishery could affect the birds. Rising sea temperatures also threaten sandeels, so kittiwake food supplies could be affected by local and larger-scale processes. 2. Drivers of kittiwake breeding success at Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs Special Protection Area, the UK's largest colony, and one of the closest to the sandeel fishing grounds, were examined. Relationships between sandeel stocks, sea surface temperature and kittiwake breeding success were analysed with generalized linear mixed models and generalized linear models, with model performance assessed using the Akaike Information Criterion and R². 3. Higher kittiwake breeding success was associated with higher sandeel spawning stock biomass (SSB; biomass of sexually mature fish) the preceding winter (R² = 21.5%) and lower sandeel fishing mortality two years previously (R² = 22.3%). After temporal trends were removed, only the fishing mortality effect remained. Models with multiple predictors supported the importance of fishing mortality. Higher sandeel SSB was associated with lower temperatures (R² = 15.2-38.6%) and lower sandeel fishing mortality (R² = 24.2-26.1%). 4. Hence, lower temperatures and fishing mortality were positively associated with sandeel biomass, and higher sandeel biomass and lower fishing mortality were positively associated with kittiwake productivity. In light of worsening environmental conditions and declining sandeel and kittiwake populations, careful consideration should be given to the requirements of sandeel-dependent predators when making fishery management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cirl bunting ( Emberiza cirlus L.) has been the subject of targeted and successful conservation efforts based on agri-environment schemes ( AES) in the UK since 1993. Recent work has suggested that although focused on a single species, there have been wider biodiversity benefits for plants and some invertebrates., In this study we investigated whether a similar pattern could be found for the Auchenorrhyncha (plant- and leafhoppers) within agricultural grasslands, where they form an important component of the herbivore community., Sweep netting was used to sample Auchenorrhyncha from AES pastures, on which no pesticide or fertiliser inputs are allowed, and from conventionally grazed and cut (silage) fields at 25 locations in south Devon UK, during 2008., Generalised linear mixed models and non-metric multidimensional scaling were used to model abundance, species density, and community structure., AES fields had the highest abundance, followed by conventionally grazed and then cut fields. The same pattern occurred for species density, although there was no significant difference between conventionally grazed and cut fields. There was no difference in community structure between field types., Number of plant species, sward age, and nitrogen input were important covariates of field type, suggesting that the limitations on inputs resulting from AES are the likely drivers of the observed differences., The results add to the evidence base that suggests that increased agricultural intensity is inversely related to invertebrate biodiversity. They also provide evidence that AES designed for the cirl bunting have provided wider biodiversity benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CapsuleSummer bird densities in establishment-stage (2–3-year-old) Miscanthus were the same as in winter wheat fields for many species, but were higher for Lapwing, and for Reed Bunting and Blackbird late in the summer. AimsTo compare abundances of farmland birds in establishment-stage Miscanthus biomass crops with those in crop types they are likely to replace (winter wheat and grassland) during the breeding season. In particular, to investigate whether such a rapid-growing, dense crop has lower abundances of field-nesting species. MethodsBird surveys were conducted in 51 Miscanthus fields and an equal number of grass or winter wheat control fields between May and July, in Lincolnshire and southwest England. ResultsSpecies richness was similar in Miscanthus to that in winter wheat and grass. Skylark densities were similar in Miscanthus and wheat, while Lapwing densities were higher in Miscanthus and grass than wheat. Miscanthus contained very high densities of Reed Buntings and Blackbirds late in the summer. ConclusionDensities of most bird species, including field-nesting species, were not lower in establishment-stage Miscanthus than in the crops it most commonly replaced. The Miscanthus surveyed was relatively weedy and patchy; further studies as crops age and knowledge of Miscanthus husbandry increases would be valuable. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Capsule Yellow Wagtails successfully raised two consecutive broods in landscapes dominated by autumn-sown crops and did not require spring crops or fallow plots for later nesting. Aims To assess whether arable landscapes dominated by winter cropping provide habitats that allow Yellow Wagtails to raise two successful broods. To assess the utility of spring cultivated agri-environment fallow plots as a nesting and foraging habitat for Yellow Wagtails. Methods Nesting success and foraging behaviour of Yellow Wagtails was monitored on lowland arable farmland dominated by winter cropping during two successive breeding seasons. Results Yellow Wagtails successfully raised first and second broods mainly in winter cereals, with later nests being more successful. Some nests were initiated in bean fields where egg-stage failure rates were high, probably as a consequence of depredation. Fallow plots were not used for nesting but, along with other areas of sparse vegetation, were regularly used for foraging. Conclusions Yellow Wagtails breeding at relatively low densities achieved high rates of reproductive success in a landscape dominated by winter cereals and with few spring-sown crops. This study suggests that spring-sown crops may not be necessary for Yellow Wagtails to rear two successful broods each summer within arable landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major changes to the extent and quality of farmland habitats, brought by the intensification of agricultural practice, are thought to be the main factors driving declines in a suite of farmland bird species in Europe. Recent changes in agricultural techniques have also contributed to widespread soil degradation, arising from increased soil exposure to erosion forces, declining soil organic content and increasing soil compaction. Although soils have a fundamental influence on ecosystem properties, the implications of soil degradation for farmland biodiversity have received little attention. In this study, we measure the influence of soil conditions on the distribution of a declining insectivorous farmland bird, the yellow wagtail Motacilla flava, relative to other habitat features in arable fields. Soil penetrability was found to have a significant influence on the abundance of territorial yellow wagtails at the field scale, together with crop type. Other measured habitat features had little effect on territory abundance, including soil organic content, crop height (within preferred crop types), field boundary habitats and availability of bare ground. Monitoring of invertebrate abundance across 20 cereal fields revealed a significant influence of both soil penetrability and soil organic content on aerial invertebrate capture rates. This relationship was strongest during the latter part of the breeding season, implying that settling yellow wagtails could use soil penetrability as a predictive indicator of prey abundance during the chick-rearing period. The strong relationship between yellow wagtails and soil penetrability suggests a potential causative link between soil degradation and population decline. The role of soils in determining abundance patterns and population declines of other farmland species may have been overlooked in previous studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reports that agricultural intensification is being accused for the declining populations of house sparrows in Western Europe. Reduction in winter food supply; Genetic analysis; Annual productivity of house-sparrow populations.

Predators are frequently victims of wildlife crime due to conflicts with human interests. Where predators are protected, killing may occur covertly and novel methods, including satellite tracking, are often required to assess population consequences. Wildlife crime persists in the British uplands, where raptors are illegally killed on moorland managed for Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scotica shooting. To understand impacts on one such species, the Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus , we analysed data from 148 individuals tracked across Britain between 2014 and 2021. Using remotely sensed land-use data and continuous-time survival methods, we quantified survival rates, contributions of natural causes and illegal killing to mortality, and spatial and temporal associations between mortality and land managed for grouse shooting. Annual survival was low, especially among first-year birds (males: 14 %; females: 30 %), with illegal killing accounting for 27–43 % and 75 % of mortality in first-year and subadult (1-2 years) harriers respectively. Illegal killing is likely attributable to grouse moor management because i) a 10 % increase in grouse moor use resulted in a 43 % increase in mortality risk; ii) a strong overlap existed between mortality and grouse moor extent in 20 km squares, identifying hotspots of illegal killing in northern England and northeast Scotland; iii) death due to natural causes showed different spatial and temporal patterns; and iv) timing of mortality peaked around the shooting season and during breeding territory establishment. Governments have failed to reduce illegal killing of Hen Harriers and other raptors in Britain and our results emphasise that further legislative reform is needed to tackle this enduring criminality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two-hectare unsown, tilled fallow plots put in place under agri-environment schemes for stone curlews Burhinus oedicnemus in England were surveyed for other bird species, brown hares Lepus europaeus, carabid beetles, vascular plants, butterflies and bumblebees. The results were compared with those from surveys within the crop in the same field and in neighbouring fields. This was done to test whether agri-environment management targeted at a single species also provided benefits to wider biodiversity. All groups except carabid beetles were more abundant, more likely to be recorded, or more species rich on plots than within the crop. Carabid beetle activity–density and species richness did not differ between the plot and the crop; activity–density of one functional group (predators) was lower on plots than in the crop. Six rare arable plant species were recorded, predominantly from plots, and the plots are considered to perform comparably to other agri-environment options available in England designed specifically for arable plants. One red-listed bird species of conservation concern (skylark Alauda arvensis) was more abundant on plots than in the crop, and three other red-listed species (linnet Carduelis cannabina, yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella, corn bunting E. calandra) were more likely to be recorded on plots than in the crop. A fifth (lapwing Vanellus vanellus) was almost exclusively recorded from plots, and was more likely to be recorded on plots categorised as in good condition for stone curlews. These results demonstrate that fallow plots that have been put in place for the recovery of stone curlews have considerable value for a range of other farmland biodiversity, although management for stone curlews may be detrimental to some taxa, such as carabid beetles, that are sensitive to the relatively frequent spring tillage that these plots receive. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]