Yellowhammer breeding distribution in relation to field boundary habitat and summer foraging resources.

Abstract

The results of this study give a preliminary insight into resource trade-offs that occur during breeding site selection in terms of field boundary characteristics and chick-food resources in relation to Environmental Stewardship (ES) options. Stepwise deletion of variables from a generalised linear mixed-effects model showed that the presence of a song post within a territory, presence of an ideal hedge type, hedge being cut prior to the breeding season and the absence of grass as an adjacent habitat were significantly influential in determining territory distribution. These results do not negate the value of ES summer foraging habitat, instead they highlight the importance of their location at the farm and landscape level.