Farmstead modernization adversely affects farmland birds

Abstract

Farmland biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate and various conservation measures have been implemented to reverse this negative trend. Farmsteads within agricultural landscapes were recently identified as farmland bird hotspots, so we ask whether the modernization of farmsteads has substantially reduced their conservation potential for farmland birds. We assessed the effect of farmstead modernization on 29 farmland bird species in rural landscapes on 97 dairy farms across the Czech Republic, investigating differences in farmland bird abundance and species richness, as well as nest abundance of declining farmland species breeding in buildings, by comparing new/modernized with old and mixed farmsteads. Additionally, we investigated how farmstead size and environmental variables influenced avian assemblages on farmsteads. Farmland bird abundance was almost 3‐fold lower in new/modernized farmsteads compared to mixed and old farmsteads (this difference was mostly driven by building‐nesters and noncrop‐nesters). Similarly, species richness was higher in old and mixed farmsteads compared to new farmsteads. Old cow sheds hosted more nests (both old and new nests; by a factor of 1.6–21) of house sparrows Passer domesticus, barn swallows Hirundo rustica and house martins Delichon urbicum compared to new cow sheds. Importantly, effects of environmental variables were negligible or smaller compared to the farmstead type, suggesting that bird abundance and species richness on farmsteads was primarily driven by farmstead modernization rather than the structure of surrounding farmland. Synthesis and applications. Farmstead modernization may have strong adverse effects on farmland bird populations due to reducing the availability of critical high‐quality nesting and foraging opportunities. Modernization is largely financed from existing EU funds, which directly conflicts with EU biodiversity strategies aiming at halting biodiversity loss. We therefore recommend (i) including compensatory measures to increase nesting and foraging opportunities for birds during farmstead construction/modernization, (ii) increasing awareness of these problems among critical stakeholders and (iii) increasing support to small‐sized traditional farms to retain and improve habitat conditions for declining farmland species.

Local population decline of the threatened Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor is linked to the modernisation of the rural landscape

“…There is also increasing evidence from other studies that agricultural land surrounding modernised villages has 50-60% fewer birds than around comparable older villages (Rosin et al 2021). The abundance of birds on farmland has reduced almost threefold in modernised farmsteads compared with older farms (Šálek and Mayer 2023). The renovation or replacement of buildings with modern construction methods and styles eliminates nesting opportunities for a number of species that depend on structures in old buildings for their long-term survival (e.g.…”

“…The renovation or replacement of buildings with modern construction methods and styles eliminates nesting opportunities for a number of species that depend on structures in old buildings for their long-term survival (e.g. House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus , Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica ) (Ambrozini et al 2002; Rosin et al 2020; Šálek and Mayer 2023). However, the impact of rural modernisation on species that require trees or shrubs for nesting, such as the Lesser Grey Shrike, has been insufficiently documented.…”

“…These actions may have significant negative impacts on the survival and population development of birds breeding on buildings and their surroundings (Rosin et al 2020(Rosin et al , 2021. The modernisation of villages and farmsteads has resulted in significantly lower species richness and abundance of birds (Rosin et al 2021;Šálek and Mayer 2023). For example, old homesteads harboured more nests of birds such as House Sparrows Passer domesticus, Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica, and House Martins Delichon urbica than new ones (Šálek and Mayer 2023).…”

“…The modernisation of villages and farmsteads has resulted in significantly lower species richness and abundance of birds (Rosin et al 2021;Šálek and Mayer 2023). For example, old homesteads harboured more nests of birds such as House Sparrows Passer domesticus, Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica, and House Martins Delichon urbica than new ones (Šálek and Mayer 2023). It has also been suggested that village modernisation contributes far more to the decline of building and non-crop nesters than agricultural intensification at different spatial scales (Rosin et al 2016(Rosin et al , 2021.…”