Little Bustard Welfare and Steppe Farmland Management in Spain

The little bustard is one of Europe's most rapidly declining farmland birds, with welfare and population survival dependent on the retention of extensive cereal farming and steppe grassland in Spain and Portugal.

Key Facts

The global little bustard population has declined by over 40% in three generations
Spain holds over 90% of the EU population in pseudo-steppe and extensive cereal farmland
Males perform elaborate lekking displays in open areas to attract females in spring
Agricultural intensification and irrigation of dryland cereal farmland is the primary threat
EU agri-environment scheme payments for late harvesting protect displaying males and nesting females

Welfare Considerations

Little bustard welfare is compromised by agricultural intensification that eliminates the open, low-intensity cereal and fallow landscape on which this species depends. Early mechanical harvesting destroys nests and kills incubating females and chicks. Irrigation converts dry cereal land to crops incompatible with bustard use. The survival of little bustard welfare and populations in Europe depends entirely on the continuation of EU agri-environment payments that make extensive farming economically viable in its last strongholds.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment scheme campaigns that protect extensive cereal farming in Spain and Portugal
Advocate for EU Common Agricultural Policy reform that maintains biodiversity payments for steppe farmland
Donate to SEO BirdLife programmes protecting little bustard populations and habitat
Contribute little bustard sightings to European monitoring networks
Raise awareness of little bustard declines in EU agricultural policy discussions