Current status
The corn bunting is a characteristic resident species of lowland arable farmland and is one of the few British species largely dependent on cropped land. Its distribution is curious with the bulk of the population found across southern and eastern England but with small outlying groups as far away as Cornwall, the Outer Hebrides and north-east Scotland. Its numbers and distribution have been declining in some areas since the last century and steadily, in most places, since the early 1970s, a trend which appears to be continuing. The results of the Common Bird Census suggest that there was a 76% decline in the breeding population between 1968 and 1991. In addition, a decline of 32% in its British range between the two breeding atlas periods (1968-72 and 1988-91) has led to further fragmentation of the remaining high density areas and the loss of the species from many areas such as Devon, Shetland, and parts of the West Midlands and south-east England. The Farmland Bunting Survey, organised by the BTO in 1993, recorded only around 20,000 territories remaining in Britain, with no confirmed breeding in Wales. None was found breeding in Northern Ireland during the 1988-91 atlas survey. The species is declining over much of north-west Europe but remains common and widespread in southern Europe.
The corn bunting is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 and the EC Birds Directive.
Current factors causing loss or decline
Although the precise factors remain unclear, the loss of extensive mixed farming would appear to be the key to the decline of the corn bunting.
Loss of winter food is thought to be a probable cause of the population decline. The BTO`s winter corn bunting survey, in 1992/93, showed that weedy stubble fields were by far the most important feeding habitat during the winter. The area of winter stubbles has been greatly reduced in recent decades due to the switch from spring-sown to autumn-sown cereals, the decline in mixed farming and the disappearance of undersowing. In addition, increased herbicide and fertiliser use has reduced the abundance of wildflower seeds.
Reduced breeding productivity. The intensification of farming practices, such as the increased use of pesticides and fertilisers, has reduced the availability of insects which are essential as chick food. Changes in grazing/mowing regimes may reduce nest site availability and breeding success on grassland, and the decline in mixed farming has led to the disappearance of insect-rich (and reduced input) undersown spring cereals.
Current action
Until recently the corn bunting was not regarded as a species of conservation concern and, hence, little direct action has been taken to help it.
Census work by the BTO has highlighted the plight of the species and a current GCT/NE/RSPB research project is investigating the causes of the decline, particularly with respect to agricultural intensification.
Rotational set-aside will have benefited the species, although this has been significantly reduced in area in recent years. New prescriptions encouraging the growth of undersown spring-sown cereals and retention of winter stubbles in the South Downs ESA, and the pilot Arable Stewardship Scheme, should also benefit the corn bunting.
Action plan objectives and targets
In the short term, halt or reverse the decline in numbers of the corn bunting by the year 2003 so that the Breeding Bird Survey index is at least at 1996 levels.
In the long term see a sustained recovery in numbers so that the BBS index is at least 50% higher than 1996 levels by 2008.
Expand the range from that of 1996, as measured by the frequency in random BBS squares, by 2008.
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
Take account of the need to recover the corn bunting and other farmland bird populations when developing agricultural policy and CAP reform; consider how to extend the Arable Stewardship Scheme if the pilot is successful, and how to substitute for the benefits of set-aside, if this is further reduced or abolished. (ACTION: DANI, MAFF, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Where appropriate, incorporate new management prescriptions when reviewing agri-environment schemes, especially ESAs, Countryside Stewardship, Tir Cymen and Countryside Premium Scheme, in order to reverse some of the recent changes in farm management outlined in Section 2. (ACTION: CCW, DANI, MAFF, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Seek uptake of a more cautious and targeted use of pesticides and fertilisers on farmland to reduce the impacts on potential food sources for the corn bunting. This could include encouraging integrated crop management, organic farming and the more widespread adoption of initiatives such as the recently begun Scottish 'TIBRE' project. (ACTION: DANI, MAFF, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Site safeguard and management
None proposed.
Species management and protection
None proposed.
Advisory
Promote further advice to land managers on management for corn bunting as one of a suite of farmland birds and update that advice in the light of new policies and research findings. (ACTION: DANI, MAFF, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Promote effective management of set-aside for breeding and wintering birds, including corn bunting. (ACTION: DANI, MAFF, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Future Research and Monitoring
Carry out further studies to gain an adequate understanding of the ecological requirements of the corn bunting, including the role of different factors in the decline of the species in different parts of the UK. (ACTION: CCW, DANI, EHS, NE, JNCC, MAFF, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Ensure appropriate monitoring of the breeding population through continuation of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey and consider setting up an equivalent survey to monitor winter populations. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, JNCC, SNH)
Consider including corn bunting in any future work which assesses the effects of set-aside, ESAs, the pilot Arable Stewardship Scheme and other mechanisms which may encourage farmland birds. (ACTION: DANI, MAFF, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Communications and Publicity
As appropriate, use the corn bunting as an example when highlighting the issue of declining farmland birds. (ACTION: CCW, DANI, EHS, NE, JNCC, MAFF, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Promote the importance of traditional crofting with cattle and mixed cultivation for the conservation of corn buntings in western Scotland, and of traditional ley farming elsewhere in the UK. (ACTION: CCW, DANI, EHS, NE, JNCC, MAFF, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Promote a change in perception of wild plants on farmland as essential food sources for seed-eating farmland birds, rather than as 'weeds'. (ACTION: CCW, DANI, EHS, NE, JNCC, MAFF, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Links with other action plans
None given.
Publication details
Originally published in: UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume I: Vertebrates and vascular plants (June 1998, Tranche 2, Vol I, p85)
Related links
ARKive Visit the ARKive website to view images and further information relating to this species