Wildlife Welfare

Farmland Bird Recovery Measures Evidence

Evidence review of farmland bird recovery measures including agri-environment schemes, habitat management, and targeted interventions.

Key Facts

UK farmland bird populations have declined by 57% since 1970
Agri-environment scheme uptake is associated with local farmland bird population recovery
Skylark plots, beetle banks, and wild bird seed mixes are evidence-based interventions
Grey partridge numbers have increased on farms with targeted game management
Funding committed under the Sustainable Farming Incentive will support farmland bird recovery

Welfare Considerations

Farmland bird declines represent a welfare crisis affecting billions of individual birds. Loss of nesting habitat, invertebrate prey, and winter food through agricultural intensification has driven population collapse. Evidence-based recovery measures that restore food and habitat resources directly improve the welfare of surviving birds and support population recovery.

What You Can Do

Support farms that participate in agri-environment schemes for farmland birds
Provide supplementary food for farmland birds in your garden during winter
Advocate for ambitious agri-environment funding committed to evidence-based interventions