The Decline of the Corncrake Crex crex in Britain and Ireland in Relation to Habitat

Stowe, T. J.; Newton, A. V.; Green, R. E.; Mayes, E.

doi:10.2307/2404270

Cited by 61 publications

(32 citation statements)

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“…Corncrake Crex crex -Main decline attributed to earlier and mechanized grass cutting (Norris 1947), but drainage and intensive grass management has also removed much previously suitable nesting habitat (Stowe et al 1993). One of the last remaining populations of Corncrake in Ireland is in the Shannon 'callows', where mowing is forced late by unregulated winter and spring flooding (Shepherd & Green 1994).…”

Section: Greenmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the last remaining populations of Corncrake in Ireland is in the Shannon 'callows', where mowing is forced late by unregulated winter and spring flooding (Shepherd & Green 1994). Breeding success and breeding density in various areas increased in response to later and more careful grass cutting (Green & Stowe 1993, Green et al 1997, Green 1999, Green & Gibbons 2000.…”

Section: Greenmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The recent declines of farmland bird populations in Britain: an appraisal of causal factors and conservation actions

Newton

2004

Ibis

629

501

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In this paper, the main aspects of agricultural intensification that have led to population declines in farmland birds over the past 50 years are reviewed, together with the current state of knowledge, and the effects of recent conservation actions. For each of 30 declining species, attention is focused on: (1) the external causes of population declines, (2) the demographic mechanisms and (3) experimental tests of proposed external causal factors, together with the outcome of (4) specific conservation measures and (5) agri-environment schemes. Although each species has responded individually to particular aspects of agricultural change, certain groups of species share common causal factors. For example, declines in the population levels of seed-eating birds have been driven primarily by herbicide use and the switch from spring-sown to autumn-sown cereals, both of which have massively reduced the food supplies of these birds. Their population declines have been associated with reduced survival rates and, in some species, also with reduced reproductive rates. In waders of damp grassland, population declines have been driven mainly by land drainage and the associated intensification of grassland management. This has led to reduced reproductive success, as a result of lowered food availability, together with increased disturbance and trampling by farm stock, and in some localities increased nest predation. The external causal factors of population decline are known (with varying degrees of certainty) for all 30 species considered, and the demographic causal factors are known (again with varying degrees of certainty) for 24 such species. In at least 19 species, proposed causal factors have been tested and confirmed by experiment or by local conservation action, and 12 species have been shown to benefit (in terms of locally increased breeding density) from options available in one or more agri-environment schemes. Four aspects of agricultural change have been the main drivers of bird population declines, each affecting a wide range of species, namely: (1) weed-control, mainly through herbicide use; (2) the change from spring-sown to autumn-sown cereal varieties, and the associated earlier ploughing of stubbles and earlier crop growth; (3) land drainage and associated intensification of grassland management; and (4) increased stocking densities, mainly of cattle in the lowlands and sheep in the uplands. These changes have reduced the amounts of habitat and /or food available to many species. Other changes, such as the removal of hedgerows and 'rough patches', have affected smaller numbers of species, as have changes in the timings of cultivations and harvests. Although at least eight species have shown recent increases in their national population levels, many others seem set to continue declining, or to remain at a much reduced level, unless some relevant aspect of agricultural practice is changed.Widespread population declines of farmland birds are of major conservation concern in Britain and other parts of Europe. S...

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Section: Greenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Greenmentioning

confidence: 99%

The recent declines of farmland bird populations in Britain: an appraisal of causal factors and conservation actions

Newton

2004

Ibis

629

501

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show abstract

“…Deficiencies in the census work in Lewis and Barra have been identified and results for these areas excluded from the analyses. 10 Underestimation is possible in other areas, but it is judged unlikely that it was on a scale large enough to invalidate the conclusions presented here.…”

Section: Comparison With Previous Surveysmentioning

confidence: 72%

The decline of the CorncrakeCrex crexin Britain continues

Green

1995

Bird Study

Self Cite

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“…[1][2][3][4] The causes of the population declines have been determined for species such as Grey Partridge Perdix perdix and Corncrake Crex crex, [5][6][7] but strong evidence has yet to be found to explain the declines of species such as Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Linnet Carduelis cannabina and Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella. Recent changes in agricultural practice have been cited as likely causes of these declines.…”

Section: Conservation Concern About Granivorous Birds Has Led To the mentioning

confidence: 99%

Agricultural habitat-type and the breeding performance of granivorous farmland birds in Britain

Siriwardena¹,

Crick²,

Baillie³

et al. 2000

Bird Study

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The Decline of the Corncrake Crex crex in Britain and Ireland in Relation to Habitat

Cited by 61 publications

References 0 publications

The recent declines of farmland bird populations in Britain: an appraisal of causal factors and conservation actions

The recent declines of farmland bird populations in Britain: an appraisal of causal factors and conservation actions

The decline of the CorncrakeCrex crexin Britain continues

Agricultural habitat-type and the breeding performance of granivorous farmland birds in Britain

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