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Performance and effectiveness of winter bird food patches established under Environmental Stewardship: results from the Hillesden experiment

Hinsley, S.A.; Novakowski, M.; Heard, M.; Bellamy, P.E.; Broughton, R.K.; Hulmes, S.; Hulmes, L.; Peyton, J.; Pywell, R.F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6431-9959. 2010 Performance and effectiveness of winter bird food patches established under Environmental Stewardship: results from the Hillesden experiment. In: Boatman, Nigel; Green, Mike; Holland, John; Marshall, Jon; Renwick, Alan; Siriwardena, Gavin; Smith, Barbara; de Snoo, Geert, (eds.) Agri-environment schemes: what have they achieved and where do we go from here? Association of Applied Biologists, 151-158. (Aspects of Applied Biology, 100).

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Abstract/Summary

The Hillesden experiment is a farm-scale study evaluating the performance of options under Environmental Stewardship. We describe bird usage of winter seed patches (20 patches; three seed mixes) in relation to seed depletion and variation between individual patches. Seed retention declined exponentially in all three mixes; 50% depletion occurred by late November, reaching 80-90% before mid January. In mid winter, Fodder Beet retained more seed (c. 80%) than Millet, Kale, Fodder Radish and Triticale (20-40%). Bird numbers peaked in December/early January (seed depletion 70-90%), but declined rapidly in late January coinciding with seed exhaustion. Seed yields varied between patches (minimum < 1% of maximum). If all patches had performed at the maximum, yield would have increased by about 64%. Bird counts also varied greatly between patches, but trends with seed yield were positive. At a farm-scale, winter bird abundance was significantly greater (granivorous species + 415%) when patches were available.

Item Type: Publication - Book Section
Programmes: CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 3 - Managing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Environment > BD - 3.2 - Develop and test practical measures to ameliorate the effects ...
CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 3 - Managing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Environment > BD - 3.4 - Provide science-based advice ...
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas: Pywell
Additional Keywords: farmland birds, seed depletion, seed mix, seed yield, winter bird food
NORA Subject Terms: Agriculture and Soil Science
Ecology and Environment
Related URLs:
Date made live: 05 Sep 2011 10:17 +0 (UTC)
URI: https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/14977

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