Winter use of wild bird cover crops by passerines on farmland in northeast England.

Abstract

Capsule Declining farmland species were more abundant in these crops which can be matched to the birds' requirements.
Aims To assess the use of seed-bearing crop by a range of bird species in winter.
Methods The study was carried out over three winters at a site in County Durham (England). Eleven bird species were represented, five of which are nationally targeted for conservation action.
Results Bird abundance was significantly higher where wild bird cover crops were present. Kale Brassica napus and Quinoa Chenopodium quinoa were the most used crop species, although cereals and linseed were also used.
Conclusion Simple crop mixtures can be designed to meet the needs of farmland bird communities. Our results suggest that seed production may be limited within government agri-environment schemes by restrictions on fertilizer use. The agronomy of seed-bearing crops for birds requires further investigation.