Students of agriculture subjects are being urged by Birdwatch Ireland to read their new conservation management guidelines. The guidelines were launched last Thursday by Noel Davern, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development.
Birdwatch Ireland is concerned that the decline of bird species associated with farmland over the last 25 years is linked with changes in farming practices. Since Ireland joined the EU, farming methods have become more intensive, with greater emphasis on the use of chemicals and increased production.
Birdwatch Ireland is working in conjunction with Teagasc, the agriculture and food training body, to help ensure their environmental message is integrated into agricultural training. They also plan to liaise with the Department of Education and contact second-level schools. "A particular concern on our part would be that when REPS (Rural Environmental Protection Scheme) plans for farms are drawn up, that the wildlife aspect would be taken into account," said John Murphy, countryside officer at Birdwatch Ireland.
According to the guidelines some bird species have been particularly affected by agricultural practices:
Corncrakes have disappeared from grassland farms in most counties in Ireland, as hay meadows have given way to intensively managed and early cut silage fields.
The barn owl is now a very rare sight indeed in Ireland and when it is seen it it is mostly at dusk or night when it goes hunting.
The grey partridge has vanished from its traditional arable farmland habitat during a period when crop production has become more intensive. Multiple applications of insecticides and herbicides have destroyed the invertebrates birds fed on.
Red grouse and other moorland/upland species have declined at the same time as substantial increases have occurred in the levels of hill sheep grazing, afforestation and peat harvesting.
The guidelines contain recommendations for the appropriate management of lowland grassland, including "corncrake-friendly" mowing techniques which will give birds time to escape from any danger.
