This project, funded by Natural England, and led by the British Trust for Ornithology, focuses on improving our understanding of the effectiveness of the winter bird food option (AB9) under the Countryside Stewardship scheme. Through a detailed, multi-phase approach, it aims to assess how this option contributes to farmland bird populations during the winter months, integrating data analysis, field surveys, and stakeholder engagement to guide best practices and recommendations.
Phase One Highlights:
- Uptake Analysis: Utilising GIS technology, the team will analyse the distribution and characteristics of AB9 plots, comparing them with various environmental and agricultural data layers to identify trends and potential factors influencing uptake and effectiveness.
- Field Surveys: An important part of the project involves selecting a representative sample of AB9 plots for detailed field assessments. These will include vegetation measurements and farmland bird surveys to directly evaluate the impact of these plots on local bird populations.
- Seed Preference Trials: In an innovative approach to understanding bird behavior and preferences, the project will conduct seed preference trials to identify which seeds provided under the AB9 option are most beneficial to birds, providing valuable insights for optimizing the scheme.
- Agronomy Survey: Led by CCRI, the agronomy survey will assess the establishment and management practices undertaken by the AB9 option agreement holders to identify management practices that maximise environmental performance.
Phase Two Objectives:
- Data Synthesis and Analysis: The gathered data will be analysed to identify key factors affecting the success of AB9 plots in supporting farmland birds, including the role of crop composition, plot management, and the surrounding landscape.
- Reporting and Recommendations: The project culminates in a comprehensive report detailing findings and offering evidence-based recommendations for enhancing the biodiversity benefits of the AB9 option and similar management practices, aiming to better meet farmland bird conservation targets.
Engagement and Output:
- Regular updates and a final report will ensure transparency and collaboration with stakeholders, including Natural England and Defra. A webinar presentation will further disseminate the findings, emphasising practical applications and strategic improvements to the Countryside Stewardship scheme.
This project represents an important step forward in evidence-based conservation, seeking to optimise agricultural practices for biodiversity benefits, specifically in supporting farmland bird populations through the winter months.
Starting in September 2023 and lasting until March 2025, CCRI’s input will be led by Dr Jane Mills.
CCRI Ref: 2022-128
