Wildlife

Wildlife Welfare in Farmland Bird Conservation

Farmland bird populations have declined dramatically in recent decades, with welfare implications for millions of individual animals.

Key Facts

UK farmland bird populations have declined by over 50% since 1970
Lapwings, skylarks, yellow wagtails, and corn buntings are among the most affected
Agrienvironment schemes provide habitat but coverage and quality vary
Neonicotinoid pesticides have reduced insect food availability for farmland birds
Supplementary feeding and winter stubble significantly support farmland bird welfare

Welfare Considerations

Farmland bird declines represent both a conservation crisis and a welfare issue, as millions of individual birds suffer from starvation, cold, and loss of breeding habitat. Reversing declines requires landscape-scale habitat restoration, pesticide reduction, and farmer incentives for wildlife-friendly farming practices. Welfare considerations for individual birds during the breeding and winter periods should be part of agri-environment scheme design.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes that benefit farmland birds
Provide supplementary feeding stations for farmland birds in your area
Advocate for pesticide reduction policies that protect insect-dependent birds
Support the RSPB and other farmland bird conservation organisations
Choose food produced under schemes that support farmland bird welfare