Corn Bunting Welfare on UK Arable Farmland

Corn buntings have declined catastrophically on UK farmland and their welfare is tied to traditional mixed farming landscapes with winter stubbles and beetle banks.

Key Facts

UK corn bunting population has declined by over 90% since 1970
They are now confined to eastern England with strongholds in Lincolnshire and East Anglia
Winter survival depends on seed-rich stubble fields and rough grass margins
Males hold territories from which they sing their distinctive jangling call
Agri-environment scheme payments for overwinter stubbles have stabilised some populations

Welfare Considerations

Corn bunting welfare in winter is critically dependent on seed food availability. Loss of spring-sown cereals and overwinter stubbles removed the seed resource base that supported large populations. Individual birds in landscapes with only autumn-sown crops face chronic food shortage through January to March. Breeding season welfare depends on invertebrate availability for chick rearing in field margins. Emergency agri-environment interventions providing winter seed mixes and spring-sown plots directly address the most critical welfare limitations.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment scheme uptake including overwinter stubble and spring crop options
Advocate for higher-tier environmental land management payments in corn bunting strongholds
Back RSPB and Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust corn bunting conservation
Report corn bunting sightings to BTO BBS for trend monitoring
Encourage land managers in eastern England to enter Countryside Stewardship schemes