Wild Animal Welfare

Wild Nesting Farmland Birds Machinery Welfare

Agricultural machinery kills millions of ground-nesting bird chicks annually - targeted timing restrictions and detection technology prevent this preventable mortality.

Key Facts

Silage cutting machinery kills field skylark, lapwing, and corncrake chicks at peak cutting times
Flushing bars fitted ahead of cutters drive most birds away before machinery reaches them
Nest mapping with GPS enables targeted avoidance of active nest sites
Cutting from the inside out rather than field perimeter inward enables escape
Later cutting dates after August 1 allow most species to complete breeding attempts

Welfare Considerations

Ground-nesting bird chick mortality from agricultural machinery causes real individual suffering - chicks are killed or injured by cutting and harvesting equipment. Relatively simple adjustments to timing and equipment prevent enormous preventable welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes that require nest-sensitive cutting practices
Advocate for mandatory flushing bar use and cutting timing restrictions
Engage with farming organisations about practical nest protection measures