Corn bunting is one of the fastest declining farmland birds in the North East region. In County Durham, the population has fallen from 100 pairs in 2001 to just 35 pairs in 2008 and is now in danger of disappearing altogether. The RSPB and Natural England are working hard to turn this trend around but we can't do it without your help! Could you donate one morning of your time to help save this threatened species?

As part of the RSPB Volunteer & Farmer Alliance (V&FA) project this year, we are offering farmers/land owners in key areas a free, one-off corn bunting survey, carried out by a local volunteer, to verify potential sightings and identify likely corn bunting territories. Volunteers will be provided with a map and contact details of a farm located within a maximum of about 30 mins travel time from their home. Starting in the early morning (ideally within 1 hour of sunrise), volunteers will walk around as many of the field boundaries of the farm as possible, noting down any bird that is seen or heard on the map but specifically looking out for corn bunting along the way. Surveys normally last 2-4 hours and can be carried out on any day that is convenient to both the volunteer & farmer between now and the end of June.

At the end of the survey, farms and volunteers will be provided with a comprehensive list of all the birds recorded and a map of the farm, locating the birds of conservation concern, particularly highlighting any corn bunting territories. With the help of our specialist RSPB advisors, farms which have confirmed corn bunting territories will immediately begin the process of implementing crucial management measures for this species (eg establishing unharvested cereal crops to provide a year-round food source) and other farmland birds through the Higher Level Stewardship scheme.

I currently have 8 farms in the Durham area which are waiting for surveys and if enough people are interested, I will be happy to organise a short volunteer training session.

If you have good bird identification skills and can spare one morning of your time, please contact me as soon as possible either by telephone on 0191 2334310 or by email at blanaid.oconnell@rspb.org.uk. Your help could make all the difference!

many thanks, Blánaid O'Connell

Blánaid O'Connell
RSPB Volunteer & Farmer Alliance Project Officer
North East, Yorkshire & Humber

email: blanaid.oconnell@rspb.org.uk
tel: 0191 2334310 / 07725 453209
Work hours: 9am - 5.15pm, Tuesday - Friday

RSPB Northern England Region
1 Sirius House
Amethyst Road
Newcastle Business Park
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7YL