Hinsley, S.A.; Novakowski, M.; Heard, M.; Bellamy, P.E. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2234-2119; Broughton, R.K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6838-9628; Hulmes, S.; Hulmes, L.; Peyton, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8313-6194; 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).
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.
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