Sixfold increase in farmland bird numbers on Welsh cover crop project sites

Welsh farms have significantly increased populations of farmland birds since growing seed-bearing cover crops and providing feeding stations containing supplementary seed.

A three-year project taking place on two farms across Wales has sought to help reverse the decline of farmland bird numbers in Wales.

As the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Wales and Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) project nears its conclusion, it has shown dramatic results.

Winter surveys have shown a sixfold increase in the number of the birds visiting those farms, including linnets, a species on the red list of birds of conservation concern.

And crucially, breeding bird surveys found a doubling of farmland bird populations.

GWCT advisor for Wales, Matt Goodall said the entomology team had also found higher numbers of insects in the cover crops.

He said they also found a more diverse range of species, which helps provide feed for the birds and for their chicks in the spring and summer.

Mr Goodall pointed out that it was not just birds that benefit from winter cover crops, but farm soils too.

“These are deeper rooting plants so there is the potential to improve soil health and sequester more carbon, especially if the crop is direct drilled."

Farmland bird numbers have declined with species like the corn bunting disappearing altogether from Wales, and others, including the yellowhammer, red listed.

Mr Goodall said one reason was the polarisation of farming systems: “Wales used to have more of a mixed farming landscape, with crops grown on the farm to feed cattle and sheep.

“As a result of that more polarised farming landscape a lot of species that depend on eating seeds are declining."

The two farms involved in the project - Ty Newydd Farm, an organic dairy farm in Trefnant, Denbighshire, and Gilar Farm, a hill sheep and beef farm near Pentrefoelas – were chosen because they are representative of farms found in Wales.

A combined total of 5.5 hectares of wild bird seed mix cover crops were grown across the two holdings, and supplementary feeding buckets were filled with seed and placed near the crops.

The buckets provided sufficient food during the so-called ‘hungry gap’ from December to April, when the seed in the cover crop is eaten.

Mr Goodall said the results had exceeded expectations: “Some sceptics might suggest that we are attracting birds from other areas to these sites, that we are not seeing an increase in populations.

"But even if that was the case those birds are surviving the winter rather than dying and are stronger going into the breeding season.

“However, our breeding bird surveys show that the crops and feed do make a difference to the populations on the farms themselves."

What had been unexpected was the doubling of breeding bird numbers so quickly and within the life of the project, he added.

Although the project is concluding, Mr Goodall said there was an ambition to continue with this work with the hope that future support schemes would provide options that benefit farmland bird populations.