Huge life-saver for struggling farmland birds
As winter takes its grip in the wake of the appalling wet summer, the voice we haven't heard is that of over-wintering farmland birds, writes Tim Main.
They migrate from Europe to Britain with the belief that the British countryside will provide richer pickings of berries, fruits and seeds from our hedgerows. This year that is not the case and is compounded by the fact that farmers have struggled to grow decent wild bird seed mixes and game cover crops this summer.
It could not therefore be timelier that from January 1, 2013, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust has persuaded Natural England to add over-winter supplementary feeding as an option available to farmers through stewardship schemes.
As it stands, all farmers in stewardship agreements that have elected to leave over-winter stubbles or grow wild bird seed mixture could amend their agreement for 2013 to include an option for supplementary feeding (EF23).
There are two caveats: To start feeding from January 1, you have to register your interest by Saturday, though an amendment can go live at any point. Secondly the scheme is subject to approval by the European Commission, but you would hardly think that Natural England would have included it in its new 2013 handbook if they were in much doubt.
The initiative is based on GWCT research which clearly shows that farmland bird numbers such as yellowhammers were doubled in years when additional grain seeds were provided in feed hoppers during the leanest months of winter.
GWCT's farmland biodiversity adviser, Peter Thompson, says: "This will definitely be a life-saver for our struggling farmland birds, from fieldfare and song thrush, to bramblings, chaffinch and of course robins. From January 2013 farmers can be paid to provide additional grain during the 'hungry gap' from January to late March. This year, it will be even more important for farmers to offer additional food during this critical time of year. This will ensure that many more birds will survive the winter and be in good condition to breed."
It was good to see that earlier this month Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group Association was relaunched. For more than 40 years FWAG was unrivalled for being a dedicated provider of environmental and conservation advice to farmers, before succumbing to administration in 2011.
Finally we can all learn from Mid Wales MP Glyn Davies who tweeted from his home near Welshpool: "Beautiful antlered stag in garden, grazing on shrubs border, oohs of admiration from family. I just wished I still had my 12-bore handy."
Big tweeting mistake – when you have a public profile and 1,560 followers – an avalanche of welfare-driven media coverage ensued.
Tim Main is chairman of the Shropshire Branch of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
