Wildlife

Wild Skylark Nesting: Protection During Spring Operations

Skylark nests are vulnerable to agricultural operations in spring, with simple awareness measures protecting many nests each season.

Key Facts

Skylarks nest on the ground in growing crops, vulnerable to vehicle operations
A single field may contain multiple skylark nests invisible from tractor height
Rolling skylark nest positions before operations saves many nests annually
Modified mowing patterns leaving central uncut strips benefit skylark nesting significantly

Welfare Considerations

Skylark eggs and chicks crushed by agricultural operations die from traumatic injury. Simple awareness - walking fields before operations to locate and mark nests - saves individual birds at almost no cost. Supporting farmers with this information and skylark plot schemes provides landscape-scale welfare benefit.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and local wildlife trust skylark nest protection volunteer programmes
Advocate for skylark protection training as part of farm assurance requirements
Walk fields to locate and mark skylark nests before spring operations if you have farm access