Wildlife

Cirl Bunting Welfare: South Devon Farmland Recovery

The cirl bunting underwent one of the UK's most dramatic farmland bird declines and its remarkable recovery in south Devon offers lessons for welfare-focused conservation.

Key Facts

Cirl buntings declined from around 1,000 pairs in the 1960s to just 118 pairs by 1989 in the UK
Conservation recovery through agri-environment schemes has increased the UK population to around 1,100 pairs
They depend on a combination of winter stubble fields for seed food and insect-rich grassland for breeding
South Devon is almost the entire UK range and conservation success there is nationally critical

Welfare Considerations

The near-extinction of UK cirl buntings was driven by loss of winter food from stubble fields, elimination of rough grassland insect resources by herbicide use, and hedgerow removal. Recovery has been achieved by paying farmers to maintain stubble, rough grassland and mixed farming practices. Their welfare and survival remain entirely dependent on continuation of targeted conservation farming support.

What You Can Do

Support continuation of agri-environment schemes funding cirl bunting habitat on south Devon farms
Visit south Devon cirl bunting watchpoints and donate to RSPB conservation work
Submit cirl bunting sightings to BTO and Devon Birds recording schemes
Advocate for conservation farming payments that specifically support cirl bunting recovery