The RSPB newsletter for the Volunteer & Farmer Alliance Project FIELD OF VIEW ISSUE 2 NOVEMBER 2003 Five years of V&FA yields North East a quarter of Scotland Scotland 58 a million birds 74 South and West Scotland Shading indicates the year that 120 the project started in each region 150 Northern Ireland North England 1999 115 88 154 2000 105 2001 North West England 2002 159 144 2003 East Anglia Central 285 Wales England Number of farms 300 131 371 115 376 Number of volunteers South East 250 The participation level of the V&FA Project South West England 170 196 England Numbers indicate the total number of farms 167 and volunteers that have been involved in the project over the last five years. It is astonishing to think that it was only in 1999 that we commitment to building bridges and trust; we believe began asking farmers if they would like our volunteers to that a strong partnership between conservation and survey the birds on their land. From a mere 40 farms in farming has benefits for all. that first year of the Volunteer & Farmer Alliance Project, We sincerely thank the volunteers and farmers who are some 1,839 farms have now been surveyed by 1,689 essential to this process and look forward to working volunteers. That’s over 20,000 hours of surveying and alongside you for many years to come. I hope that you 250,000 records analysed – all improving conservation enjoy reading about the V&FA and the RSPB’s range of management for declining farmland birds. other work involving farmland birds. The V&FA project is a celebration of the relationship between the RSPB and the farming community, which Mark Avery has come a long way in a short time. We have a strong Director of Conservation and V&FA volunteer In this issue: Corncrakes return to England • Farming Berney Marshes • Winter food for farmland songbirds • What is happening to our yellow wagtails? • Aren’t Welsh birds brilliant! • CAP reform Work The corncrake returns placement to England thanks The corncrake was once a familiar join the flock. In April 2003, calling part of our countryside. Although began and, during the summer, over Thanks go to Gareth Blockley, an almost impossible to see, its rasping 100 eggs were laid. We released the HND student from Moreton call could be heard in hayfields and first six chicks in June and, by the end Morrell Agricultural College in cereal crops on summer nights. of August, we had released 52 birds. Warwickshire, who completed a Mechanical mowing and the earlier month’s work placement at the We hope to breed and release well harvesting of crops, however, were its Central England Regional Office over 100 corncrakes each year, so that downfall. By the late 20th century, the working on the V&FA. His help and enough birds return from migration to only corncrakes left in the UK were on enthusiasm were greatly establish a wild breeding population. Scottish islands. A similar picture has appreciated, and he has now If this experiment works, it could be been repeated all over Europe, and decided to pursue a career in followed by similar projects the corncrake is now a globally conservation. We hope that more elsewhere in the UK. The corncrake is threatened species. students show an interest in taking unlikely to return to all its former up work placements in the future. In 1999, some young birds escaped habitats, but there are enough from a large, captive-bred population protected areas of grassland for its in Germany. They migrated south to call to be a familiar sound again. Africa for the winter, but returned the For further information, please FarmBird_UK: following spring. contact Peter Newbery on a discussion With this in mind, English Nature and 01767 680551 or the RSPB decided to breed large [email protected] group for numbers of corncrakes in captivity and release them on a grassland farmers nature reserve in England, where Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) many of the fields could be left uncut If you have ideas or questions about during the breeding season. We chose farmland bird conservation, you’ll the RSPB’s Nene Washes nature welcome a new way to discuss reserve in Cambridgeshire, where we them with the experts. FarmBird_UK manage several hundred hectares of is an internet discussion group that grassland for birds and other wildlife. lets you talk to members of RDS, In February 2001, we imported young FWAG, the Game Conservancy captive-bred corncrakes from Trust and the RSPB. Subjects raised Germany, and they spent the spring so far include: indoors, at Chester Zoo. In June, we • the benefits of desiccating transferred them to outdoor pens at oilseed rape by spraying rather Whipsnade Wild Animal Park. than swathing Disappointingly, no breeding took • using grain waste to feed place and we moved them to an farmland birds indoor enclosure for the winter. bird use of conservation • In April 2002, we returned the birds to headlands outdoor pens, where the first brood of management of rush • chicks hatched in June. We kept some infestations. of the chicks for further breeding, but To join the discussions, log onto released the majority onto the Nene www.forwardfarming.org.uk/forum, Washes. We hoped that they would select ‘FarmBird_UK’ and register migrate to Africa and return to the using the link at the top of the page. reserve in spring. Unfortunately, no Membership is free; you just need calling males were heard in 2003 – an e-mail address. although this was not unexpected, For further information, please given the small number of birds contact Richard Winspear on released. 01767 680551 or In December 2002, we brought more Corncrakes are being released at [email protected] young corncrakes from Germany to the Nene Washes Berney Marshes – a farmed RSPB reserve Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com) Grazing maintains ideal conditions for wildlife at Berney Marshes The RSPB’s Berney Marshes nature As one of the largest marsh and lapwings, while farmers use the reserve in Norfolk covers 364 ha and landowners, the RSPB manages the same methods to produce the right is part of the 1,430 ha Halvergate land in a similar way to its grass for summer grazing and Marshes. It lies on the southern edge neighbours, but our primary winter silage. of Halvergate, bordered by Breydon objective is birds. These similar methods can often be Water estuary. There are many similarities in our carried out in tandem, meaning that Over the years, Halvergate Marshes management. The RSPB manages both parties benefit. In order to grow has alternated between arable and the water to provide favourable our respective crops, we have to grassland management as the conditions for invertebrates that feed share an understanding of our agricultural climate has changed. The the birds, while farmers manage different needs and how they are most recent move has been towards water levels to provide drinking likely to affect each other. grassland management, with water and ensure that the grass For further information, please Environmentally Sensitive Areas supports good animals and silage. contact Mark Smart on 01493 700645 (ESAs) changing the way that We use livestock and tractors to or [email protected] marshes are managed. ensure the right length of grass for different birds, such as redshanks Volunteering in the 21st century In the last year, the RSPB has Volunteers will notice improvements Don’t worry if this sounds a bit like developed a new computer system in the support, management and ‘big brother’ – we only want to use to provide one single point of communications that they receive. the system to ensure that we can information for all our volunteers. It better support you in your The system will make sure that we is known as the Volunteer volunteering for the RSPB. know exactly who you all are, where Management System and will be you live and what you are doing for For further information, please introduced across the RSPB by the RSPB. contact Alan Murray on 01767 680551 January 2004. or [email protected] NFU Scotland Farmland Biodiversity Award The winner of the 2003 NFU David Tolliday Scotland Farmland Biodiversity Award was Norman Massie from Culsalmond in Aberdeenshire. Norman and Alison Massie run a 100 ha farm that supports a variety of habitats. In the early 1990s, they created a wetland in a barley field, on the advice of Grampian FWAG. It quickly became an important area for wading birds, including breeding redshanks – which are rare in the area – and lapwings. The wetland also supports ducks such as the mallard and teal, while snipe are abundant in winter. Inspired by this success, the Massies created other features – including hedges and field margins – under the Countryside Premium Scheme, and are actively seeking new opportunities in the area. They signed up for the V&FA in 2003. This is the second year that the RSPB has sponsored the NFU Scotland Farmland Biodiversity Award, one of three awards for excellence given by the NFUS and Redshanks are benefiting from new wetlands in Aberdeenshire the Scottish Farmer newspaper. The award recognises farmers, crofters Application forms are now available For further details, contact Marla and growers who demonstrate a for the 2004 NFU Scotland Farmland Cunningham on 0131 472 4000 or at: commitment to the conservation of Biodiversity Award, which is open to NFUS, Rural Centre, West Mains, semi-natural habitats on their farm. all NFUS members. Ingliston, Midlothian EH28 8LT. Profit without loss The question, How can farming be This new initiative, called PROBE approach look good alongside a profitable without losing wildlife? (Profit, Biodiversity and healthy yield of insects and seeds has a different answer on every Environment) is based at a 60 ha that we know are vital for our farm.