The “Farmland Bird Index 2021” recently published by “BirdLife Austria” clearly shows: 40 percent of the birds have already disappeared from their native land and pastures since 1998 and the stocks have still not recovered despite an extensive agri-environmental program. Three quarters of the domesticated breeding birds surveyed show a negative population trend, including the bunting at an alarming 94 percent minus.
The current evaluation of the breeding bird monitoring data, carried out by the bird protection organization BirdLife Austria on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, shows: The population of native field and meadow birds – measured on the basis of 23 indicator bird species – has been stagnant for eight years at a very low level, where the indicator has fallen slightly again in the past year and now stands at 60.5 percent.
Agriculture & Co. as reasons
The reasons for the disappearance of the birds are intensive farming, a lack of vacant land and field borders and the massive use of pesticides. The EU’s opening of those valuable areas previously devoted to biodiversity for conventional cultivation last March should accelerate the extinction. A catastrophe of unprecedented proportions for the biodiversity of our cultivated land.
The inconspicuous gray and brown striped corn bunting was especially hard hit. At an alarming 94 percent decline since 1998 and stocks have halved in the last six years, it is practically on the brink of extinction. The metallic and rather monotonous sounding “tück tück-zick-zik-zkzkzkzrississss” of the Corn Bunting has been silenced almost forever – it has become eerily silent in our landscape.
In order to survive, the corn bunting needs so-called fallow land, which is (temporarily) removed from economic use. The loss of these wastelands, the massive use of pesticides and intensive farming make it difficult for the birds to survive.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
