POPULATION DECLINES AND RANGE CONTRACTIONS AMONG LOWLAND FARMLAND BIRDS IN BRITAIN

We used extensive atlas and census data to assess trends in the distri bution and population levels of birds on lowland farmland In Britain b etween the late 1960s and early 1990s. Many species of farmland birds have become less widespread or have declined in numbers, of both, but few have become more widespread or have increased. Of the 28 species c lassified as farmland birds the distributions of 24 contracted between 1970 and 1990. Of the 18 farmland species for which it was possible t o assess population change, 15 were less abundant in 1990 than in 1970 . Seven of the species were estimated to have undergone population dec reases of at least 50%. Farmland species showing the largest populatio n declines tended also to show substantial range contractions. Farmlan d species underwent an appreciably larger contraction of distribution than species associated with any other habitat Furthermore, farmland s pecies tended to decrease in abundance, whereas woodland species tende d to increase. Population declines among farmland birds became evident in tbe mid- to late 1970s, a period when several fundamental changes were taking place in British agricultural practices. These included a great reduction in the spring sowing of cereals, a simplification of c rop rotations, increased use of chemical pesticides and inorganic fert ilizers, and more-intensive grassland management We suggest that the d eclines of farmland bird species have been caused or aggravated by thi s pervasive intensification of agriculture. Existing research on decli ning farmland birds, however indicates that there is no single mechani sm underlying the population changes. We identify priorities for resea rch, focusing mainly on relationships between bird populations and agr icultural practices, but we also recognize a need for a better underst anding of the role of predation.