Farmland and croftland birds

Scotland's farmland and croftland is extremely important for a range of bird species which have successfully adapted to these man-modified habitats. At the same time, changes in agricultural practice can have big impacts on the populations of farmland birds. For example, arable crops are now rarely grown on Scotland's west coast, which has caused significant declines in previously common species such as skylark, corn bunting and yellowhammer. Meanwhile, the steep rise in areas managed intensively for silage (grass that is cropped and stored for winter feed) has caused dramatic increases in the populations of wintering geese. Low-intensity agriculture, particularly in the Hebrides, still provides ideal conditions for high densities of breeding waders such as dunlin, oystercatcher, ringed plover and redshank.

Wintering geese

Greenland barnacle geese and Greenland white-fronted geese visit Scotland in internationally important numbers every winter. Their impressive flocks are simultaneously one of Argyll's most famous wildlife spectacles, and an economic threat to those farmers affected by damaged grass crops. Visit Caerlaverock or go to Islay to see these big flocks up close.

Corncrake

The corncrake is an example of how reliant some birds can be on particular systems of land management. Once widespread and very numerous across the UK, corncrakes thrive when farms have plenty of tall vegetation for cover early during the breeding season, and systems of late cropping which allow the adults and young birds to survive. Changes to farming in the 20th century led to corncrakes crashing in a few short decades, but they retained a toehold on Scotland's western and northern edges. Numbers have now recovered following targeted habitat management, but most of their previous range is still unoccupied.

Chough

Cattle grazing helps to maintain year-round populations of chough on Islay and Colonsay, at the northern limit of their range. These social and characterful crows love to feed in the insect-rich dung piles and short maritime sward found around the coast, while natural caves and ruined buildings provide safe nest sites.