Key Points
Understanding where birds are, why they are there and when they are there should improve the opportunities for arable farmers to use effective managemnt practices:
- House sparrows were the most abundant species both over the breeding season and the winter period.
- Of the seed feeding species there was no relationship within the same farm between the densities in the breeding seasn (Nov-Jan) and the densities through the winter.
- High bird densities are often assiciated with where there is use of supplementary feed through the winter, presumably as this provides a feed source for the birds.
- Before the seed is ripe there are often low associations of the species which cause damage in the crop before indicating they move in from other areas.
- Species such as sparrows can be found in herbage crops prior to seed being available throught the breeding season when insects form a part of the diet.
- There are strong associations of some species, eg sparrows and greenfinch, within the breeding season, while other species eg goldfinch, were associated with shelterbelts and boundary areas through the whole season.
- A simple flow diagram has been complied whih indicates available bird management options.