Management of grassland for skylarks Alauda arvensis in downland Environmentally Sensitive Areas in southern England.

Abstract

1. Surveys and experiments were conducted (1994-1997) in the South Downs and South Wessex Downs Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in southern England to investigate the effects on grassland birds of large-scale reversion of land formerly under rotational arable cropping to permanent grassland.
2. Under ESA management prescriptions aimed at conserving landscape, archaeological and wildlife (mainly botanical) interests, nesting cover and food resources available to breeding and wintering skylarks were low.
3. Recent revisions of the ESA management prescriptions took account of these results and included modification of summer mowing dates, new guidelines for grass height management, and inclusion of arable options (undersown spring barley and over-winter stubble). These changes should benefit breeding and wintering skylarks.
4. Management recommendations that enhance the conservation value of arable reversion grassland for skylarks are provided.