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.