The influence of Environmental Stewardship (ES) summer foraging habitat on the territory selection of yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella.

Abstract

Invertebrate-rich foraging habitats are included in Environmental Stewardship (ES) schemes in the UK, with the aim of increasing the productivity of farmland birds and thus boosting population recovery. This preliminary study investigated the role of ES foraging resources in determining territory site selection and breeding distribution of a declining farmland bird species, yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella. This involved a presence-absence comparison of habitat composition within the foraging ranges of 36 occupied and unoccupied territories. ES foraging habitats were found to be important in the territory site selection of yellowhammer, implying both that foraging resources are important in determining the distribution of yellowhammer and that ES options represent valuable foraging habitat. This also suggests that a lack of foraging resources could place a limitation on breeding densities, and highlights the importance of co-ordinating the distribution of foraging habitat with suitable nesting habitat.