Crop sward structure explains seasonal variation in nest site selection and informs agri-environment scheme design for a species of high conservation concern: the Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra

REFERENCES

• Berg, A. 2008. Habitat selection and reproductive success of Ortolan Buntings Emberiza hortulana on farmland in central Sweden – the importance of habitat heterogeneity. Ibis 150: 565–573. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2008.00825.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bradbury, R.B., Kyrkos, A., Morris, A.J., Clark, S.C., Perkins, A.J. & Wilson, J.D. 2000. Habitat associations and breeding success of yellowhammers on lowland farmland. J. Appl. Ecol. 37: 789–805. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2000.00552.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Brambilla, M. & Rubolini, D. 2009. Intra-seasonal changes in distribution and habitat associations of a multi-brooded bird species: implications for conservation planning. Anim. Conserv. 12: 71–77. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2008.00226.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bretagnolle, V., Villers, A., Denonfoux, L., Cornulier, T., Inchausti, P. & Badenhausser, I. 2011. Rapid recovery of a depleted population of Little Bustards Tetrax tetrax following provision of alfalfa through an agri-environment scheme. Ibis 153: 4–13. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2010.01092.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Brickle, N.W. 1998. The effect of agricultural intensification on the decline of the Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra. PhD Thesis, University of Sussex.
   Google Scholar
• Brickle, N.W. & Harper, D.G.C. 1999. Diet of nestling Corn Buntings Miliaria calandra in southern England examined by compositional analysis of faeces. Bird Study 46: 319–329. doi: 10.1080/00063659909461145
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Brickle, N.W. & Harper, D.G.C. 2002. Agricultural intensification and the timing of breeding of Corn Buntings Miliaria calandra. Bird Study 49: 219–228. doi: 10.1080/00063650209461269
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Brickle, N.W. & Peach, W.J. 2004. The breeding ecology of Reed Buntings Emberiza schoeniclus in farmland and wetland habitats in lowland England. Ibis 146: 69–77. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2004.00349.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Brickle, N.W., Harper, D.G.C., Aebischer, N.J. & Cockayne, S.H. 2000. Effects of agricultural intensification on the breeding success of corn buntings Miliaria calandra. J. Appl. Ecol. 37: 742–755. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2000.00542.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Burgess, M.D., Bright, J.A., Morris, A.J., Field, R.H., Grice, P.V., Cooke, A.I. & Peach, W. 2015. Influence of agri-environment scheme options on territory settlement by Yellowhammer (Emberiza citronella) and Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra). J. Ornithol. 156: 153–163. doi: 10.1007/s10336-014-1113-1
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Butler, S.J., Vickery, J.A. & Norris, K. 2007. Farmland biodiversity and the footprint of agriculture. Science 315: 381–384. doi: 10.1126/science.1136607
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Chamberlain, D.E., Wilson, A.M., Browne, S.J. & Vickery, J.A. 1999. Effects of habitat type and management on the abundance of skylarks in the breeding season. J. Appl. Ecol. 36: 856–870. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.1999.00453.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Crick, H.Q.P., Dudley, C., Evans, A.D. & Smith, K.W. 1994. Causes of nest failure among buntings in the UK. Bird Study 41: 88–94. doi: 10.1080/00063659409477203
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Davis, S.K. 2005. Nest-site selection patterns and the influence of vegetation on nest survival of mixed-grass prairie passerines. Condor 107: 605–616. doi: 10.1650/0010-5422(2005)107[0605:NSPATI]2.0.CO;2
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Donald, P.F., Evans, A.D., Muirhead, L.B., Buckingham, D.L., Kirby, W.B. & Schmitt, S.I.A. 2002. Survival rates, causes of failure and productivity of Skylark Alauda arvensis nests in lowland farmland. Ibis 144: 652–664. doi: 10.1046/j.1474-919X.2002.00101.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Douglas, D.J.T., Vickery, J.A. & Benton, T.G. 2009. Improving the value of field margins as foraging habitat for farmland birds. J. Appl. Ecol. 46: 353–362. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01613.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Evans, K. 2004. The potential for interactions between predation and habitat change to cause population declines of farmland birds. Ibis 146: 1–13. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2004.00231.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gillings, S. & Watts, P.N. 1997. Habitat selection and distribution of corn buntings Miliaria calandra in the Lincolnshire Fens. In Donald, P.F. & Aebischer, N.J. (eds.) The Ecology and Conservation of Corn Buntings Miliaria Calandra, 139–150. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.
   Google Scholar
• Gilroy, J.J., Anderson, G.Q.A., Grice, P.V., Vickery, J.A. & Sutherland, W.J. 2010. Mid-season shifts in the habitat associations of Yellow Wagtails Motacilla flava breeding in arable farmland. Ibis 152: 90–104. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2009.00988.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gilroy, J.J., Anderson, G.Q.A., Vickery, J.A., Grice, P.V. & Sutherland, W.J. 2011. Identifying mismatches between habitat selection and habitat quality in a ground-nesting farmland bird. Anim. Conserv. 14: 620–629. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2011.00480.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gotmark, F., Blomqvist, D., Johansson, O.C. & Bergkvist, J. 1995. Nest site selection: a trade-off between concealment and view of the surroundings? J. Avian. Biol. 26: 305–312. doi: 10.2307/3677045
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Green, R.E. & Stowe, T.J. 1993. The decline of the Corncrake in Britain and Ireland in relation to habitat change. J. Appl. Ecol. 30: 689–695. doi: 10.2307/2404247
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Green, R.E., Tyler, G.A., Stowe, T.J. & Newton, A.V. 1997. A simulation model of the effect of mowing of agricultural grassland on the breeding success of the corncrake Crex crex. J. Zool. 243: 81–115. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb05758.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Green, R.E., Tyler, G.A. & Bowden, C.G.R. 2000. Habitat selection, ranging behaviour and diet of the stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) in southern England. J. Zool. 250: 161–183. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2000.tb01067.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Grüebler, M.U., Schuler, H., Müller, M., Spaar, R., Horch, P. & Naef-Daenzer, B. 2008. Female biased mortality caused by anthropogenic nest loss contributes to population decline and adult sex ratio of a meadow bird. Biol. Conserv. 141: 3040–3049. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2008.09.008
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hartley, I.R. & Shepherd, M. 1994a. Female reproductive success, provisioning of nestlings and polygyny in Corn Buntings. Anim. Behav. 48: 717–725. doi: 10.1006/anbe.1994.1290
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hartley, I.R. & Shepherd, M. 1994b. Nesting success in relation to timing of breeding in the Corn Bunting on North Uist. Ardea 82: 173–184.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hartley, I.R. & Shepherd, M. 1995. A random female settlement pattern can explain polygyny in the Corn Bunting. Anim. Behav. 49: 1111–1118. doi: 10.1006/anbe.1995.0139
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hartley, I.R., Shepherd, M. & Thompson, D.B.A. 1995. Habitat selection and polygyny in breeding Corn Buntings Miliaria calandra. Ibis 137: 508–514. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.1995.tb03260.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hiron, M., Berg, A. & Pärt, T. 2012. Do skylarks prefer autumn sown cereals? Effects of agricultural land use, region and time in the breeding season on density. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 150: 82–90. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2012.01.007
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hustings, F. 1997. The decline of the corn bunting Miliaria calandra in The Netherlands. In Donald, P.F. & Aebischer, N.J. (eds.), The Ecology and Conservation of Corn Buntings Miliaria Calandra, 42–51. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.
   Google Scholar
• Jones, N.E. & Smith, B.M. 2007. Effects of selective herbicide treatment, row width and spring cultivation on weed and arthropod communities in winter wheat. Aspects. Appl. Biol. 81: 39–46.
   Google Scholar
• Kirby, W.B., Anderson, G.Q.A., Grice, P.V., Soanes, L., Thompson, C. & Peach, W.J. 2012. Breeding ecology of Yellow Wagtails Motacilla flava in an arable landscape dominated by autumn-sown crops. Bird Study 59: 383–393. doi: 10.1080/00063657.2012.715136
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Littell, R.C., Milliken, G.A., Stroup, W.W. & Wolfinger, R.D. 1996. SAS System for Mixed Models. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.
   Google Scholar
• Macdonald, D. 1965. Notes on the Corn Bunting in Sutherland. Scott. Birds 3: 235–246.
   Google Scholar
• Marshall, E.J.P., Brown, V.K., Boatman, N.D., Lutman, P.J.W., Squire, G.R. & Ward, L.K. 2003. The role of weeds in supporting biological diversity within crop fields. Weed. Res. 48: 77–89. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-3180.2003.00326.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Newton, I. 1998. Population Limitation in Birds. Academic Press, London.
   Google Scholar
• PECBMS. 2014. Trends of Common Birds in Europe, 2014 Update. CSO/RSPB, Prague. http://www.ebcc.info/pecbm.html. (Accessed September 2014).
   Google Scholar
• Perkins, A.J., Maggs, H.E. & Wilson, J.D. 2008. Winter bird use of seed-rich habitats in agri-environment schemes. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 126: 189–194. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2008.01.022
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Perkins, A.J., Maggs, H.E., Watson, A. & Wilson, J.D. 2011. Adaptive management and targeting of agri-environment schemes does benefit biodiversity: a case study of the corn bunting Emberiza calandra. J. Appl. Ecol. 48: 514–522. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2011.01958.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Perkins, A.J., Watson, A., Maggs, H.E. & Wilson, J.D. 2012. Conservation insights from changing associations between habitat, territory distribution and mating system of Corn Buntings Emberiza calandra over a 20-year population decline. Ibis 154: 601–615. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2012.01246.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Perkins, A.J., Maggs, H.E., Wilson, J.D. & Watson, A. 2013. Delayed mowing increases corn bunting Emberiza calandra nest success in an agri-environment scheme trial. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 181: 80–89. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2013.09.010
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Preston, C.D., Pearman, D.A. & Dines, T.D. (eds) 2002. New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora. Oxford University Press, New York, NY.
   Google Scholar
• Rands, M.R.W. 1986. Effect of hedgerow characteristics on partridge breeding densities. J. Appl. Ecol. 23: 479–487. doi: 10.2307/2404030
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Schüttler, E., Klenke, R., McGehee, S., Rozzi, R. & Jax, K. 2009. Vulnerability of ground-nesting waterbirds to predation by invasive American mink in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, Chile. Biol. Conserv. 142: 1450–1460. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.02.013
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Setchfield, R.P., Mucklow, C., Davey, A., Bradter, U. & Anderson, G.Q.A. 2012. An agri-environment option boosts productivity of Corn Buntings Emberiza calandra in the UK. Ibis 154: 235–247. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2011.01207.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sheldon, R.D., Chaney, K. & Tyler, G.A. 2005. Factors affecting nest-site choice by Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus within arable fields: the importance of crop structure. Wader Study Group Bull. 108: 47–52.
   Google Scholar
• Simmons, S.R., Oelke, E.A. & Anderson, P.M. 1995. Growth and Development Guide for Spring Wheat. University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN.
   Google Scholar
• Snow, D.W. & Perrins, C.M. (eds) 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Concise Edition, Vol. 2. Oxford University Press, New York, NY.
   Google Scholar
• Vickery, J.A., Tallowin, J.R., Feber, R.E., Asteraki, E.J., Atkinson, P.W., Fuller, R.J. & Brown, V.K. 2001. The management of lowland neutral grasslands in Britain: effects of agricultural practices on birds and their food resources. J. Appl. Ecol. 38: 647–664. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2001.00626.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Watson, A. 1992. Unripe grain, a major food for young finch-like birds. Scott. Birds 16: 287.
   Google Scholar
• Weidinger, K. 2002. Interactive effects of concealment, parental behaviour and predators on the survival of open passerine nests. J. Anim. Ecol. 71: 424–437. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2002.00611.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wilson, J.D., Evans, J., Browne, S.J. & King, J.R. 1997. Territory distribution and breeding success of skylarks Alauda arvensis on organic and intensive farmland in southern England. J. Appl. Ecol. 34: 1462–1478. doi: 10.2307/2405262
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wilson, J.D., Morris, A.J., Arroyo, B.E., Clark, S.C. & Bradbury, R.B. 1999. A review of the abundance and diversity of invertebrate and plant foods of granivorous birds in northern Europe in relation to agricultural change. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 75: 13–30. doi: 10.1016/S0167-8809(99)00064-X
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wilson, J.D., Whittingham, M.J. & Bradbury, R.B. 2005. The management of crop structure: a general approach to reversing the impacts of agricultural intensification on birds? Ibis 147: 453–463. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919x.2005.00440.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Yom-Tov, Y. 1992. Clutch size and laying dates of three species of buntings Emberiza in England. Bird Study 39: 111–114. doi: 10.1080/00063659209477106
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar