Breeding birds in the agricultural area on higher-lying sandy soils
Changes in agriculture are responsible for a sharp decline in many breeding birds in the agricultural area on higher-lying sandy soils.
Trends
On average, breeding birds in the agricultural area on higher-lying sandy soils have declined sharply since 1950. It is not only the birds of arable fields and grassland that have been affected (like the sky lark and corn bunting), but also the birds of field margins, wooded banks and unused corners, such as partridge and whinchat. The group as a whole has remained stable since 1990, even though the number of species declining exceeds the number of species increasing.
The causes are the intensive use of arable land and grassland, a change in the crops grown, and the upscaling of agriculture that has resulted in the disappearance of many small landscape elements such as wooded banks and unused corners of land.
Various breeding birds in the agricultural area on higher-lying sandy soils are listed as endangered on the Red List of birds.
Technical note
The figure shows the Species Group Trend Index (SGTI) for breeding birds characteristic of the agricultural area on higher-lying sandy soils that were common in that habitat in 1950. The SGTI is the mean index for the following species (the benchmark year is 1950 (=100) and the trend since 1990 is shown in parenthesis): swallow (more or less stable), hobby (no clear trend), yellowhammer (increase), blue-headed wagtail (increase), meadow pipit (stable), whitethroat (stable), corn bunting (decrease), red-backed shrike (no clear trend), mistle thrush (decrease), black-tailed godwit (decrease), house martin (more or less stable), ruff (virtually disappeared), barn owl (increase), corncrake (increase), ortolan bunting (disappeared), whinchat (decrease), partridge (decrease), rook (decrease), stonechat (increase), shoveler (no cear trend), little owl (decrease), kestrel (decrease), redshank (stable), snipe (decrease), sky lark (decrease), curlew (stable) and garganey (no clear trend).
The data are from the Ecological Monitoring Network's national networks for monitoring breeding birds and meadow birds.
References
- Dijk, A.J. van, L. Dijksen, F. Hustings, D. Zoetebier en C. Plate (2001). Broedvogelmonitoring Project. Jaarverslag 1998-99. SOVON-rapport 2001/03. SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland. Beek-Ubbergen.
- Dijk, A.J. van, M.J.T. van der Weide, R. Kleefstra, D. Zoetebier en C. Plate (2001). Kolonievogels en zeldzame broedvogels in Nederland in 1999. SOVON-monitoringrapport 2001/08. SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland. Beek-Ubbergen.
