'Fat bird of the barley' stabilises in North-East Scotland

The number of Corn Buntings has stabilised in Aberdeenshire and Moray, according to a Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) report published on 1 February.

After dramatic population declines and range contractions, Corn Bunting is now red-listed in the UK, which means they are considered the highest conservation priority with urgent action needed. Once widespread, the species is now only found in four main areas of Scotland — Fife, Angus, the Western Isles and the stronghold of Aberdeenshire and Moray.

There was a slight increase in Corn Bunting numbers across the 48 farms surveyed with 246 territorial males in 2015, compared to 232 in 2008–09. This is in sharp contrast with severe, long-term decline across Scotland from the 1970s to 2000s.

Jessica Shaw, SNH ornithologist, said: "It's wonderful news that the number of Corn Buntings in Aberdeenshire and Moray has stabilised, with the good work done by many farmers in the area. But we can't be complacent, as the population is still much lower than 20 years ago. We're committed to working with farmers to increase the number of Corn Buntings in Scotland."

Allan Perkins, RSPB Scotland conservation scientist, added: "The results of the survey are very encouraging, and a reflection of the many years of partnership working with farmers in these areas to improve the fortunes of this fantastic bird. Corn Buntings favour farmland which is managed less intensively, especially late-cut meadows and weedy cereal fields, along with a rich source of seeds and grain during winter. Government funding is available for this type of management, and we encourage more farmers to participate to help restore numbers to what they were in the 1990s."

The sight of a Corn Bunting in full song has become increasingly rare across Britain over the past few decades (Photo: John Walker)

An agri-environmental scheme (AES) package to support Corn Buntings was available for farmers from 2007 to 2013 through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SDRP), with a new scheme in place from 2015-2020, the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS). There is a wealth of evidence showing SRDP is the best tool available to help the recovery of Corn Bunting, and the report emphasises the importance of keeping up the momentum of AES schemes, as well as improving results by targeting measures to benefit the species even further.

The current national population of Corn Buntings is estimated to be between 750 and 900 territorial males: this is 34-41 per cent of the 2,200 estimated in 1993. The decline of the species in Scotland, and across much of Europe, is mainly as a result of agricultural intensification.

To read the full report, visit the SNH website.