Hull Biodiversity Action Plan

Skylarks are small streaky brown birds with a small crest, which can be raised when they are excited or alarmed. They have a white-sided tail and the wings also have a white rear edge, which is visible in flight. Skylarks have a strong bill and a somewhat open-faced appearance due to a pale eye-ring.

Skylarks are generally found in lowland farmland. They prefer open habitats and like areas with a covering of grass, they avoid isolated trees and tall hedges. In winter they favour stubble fields, root crops and young pasture. Skylarks also occur in man-made habitats such as golf courses and playing fields. They feed on the ground and consume a wide range of invertebrates, seeds and leaves. Their diet varies according to the season and environment. In winter some birds feed individually, but often they form large flocks that can number thousands of birds.

They are ground nesting birds and breed from April to early August according to the ground cover. A pair will lay one to four clutches, each of three to five grey-white, thickly spotted eggs. The chicks are fed by both parents entirely on insects for the first week, gradually introducing small quantities of shoots and seeds until they are on a fully mixed diet at fledging.

CURRENT STATUS

Skylarks are found from Ireland and Portugal in the west, throughout Europe and as far east as Japan and the Pacific coast of Russia. They also live in north Africa from Morocco across to Egypt and the Middle East. They were introduced into former British colonies and are now firmly established in New Zealand, Tasmania, south-east Australia and British Columbia. The Skylark is one of the most widely distributed breeding birds in the UK, being present in 98% of all 10 km squares surveyed for the Breeding Bird Atlas in 1988-9. The resident population is joined in winter by a significant proportion of the European population, possibly up to 25 million individuals.

Almost all countries of northern and western Europe report recent declines. There have also been serious declines in the UK with a loss of 52% between 1970 and 1998. The most recent population estimate (1997) indicates that there are about 1 million breeding pairs. The Skylark occurs on the RSPB Red List of 'Birds of Conservation Concern' and on the UK Biodiversity Steering Group (UKBSG) 'Short List of Globally Threatened/Declining Species'.

Within Hull, recent records indicate that three pairs were breeding off Priory Road in 1996 and several on the former sidings at Priory Park East in 1998. A Skylark was recorded singing over Anlaby Common in 1999 and another over Victoria Dock in 2000. There are still about 12 pairs breeding at North Bransholme and a winter flock of 65 was observed there in December 1999. This is thought to be the largest breeding concentration within the Hull boundary.

CURRENT FACTORS AFFECTING SKYLARKS

The most obvious decline has been on lowland farmland and can be attributed to changing farming practices, including reduction in crop diversity, loss of winter stubble and increased use of herbicides and insecticides. Autumn sown cereals may make an unsuitable nesting habitat compared with spring-sown varieties. Tall, fertilised grass is unsuitabe for nesting and early silage cutting destroys nests and exposes Skylarks to predators.
The causes of decline are poorly understood because population trends in habitats other than farmland are largely unknown.

CURRENT ACTION

Legal Status

The Skylark is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). It is illegal intentionally to kill, injure or take any wild bird, intentionally to take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built or intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird. The Skylark also receives protection under the EC Birds Directive (1979).

Management, Research and Guidance

The UKBSG has produced a Species Action Plan for the Skylark. The plan aims to maintain present breeding numbers, wintering numbers and distribution throughout the UK. It also aims to reverse the population decline on lowland farmland and other habitats where it is found to be declining. The plan highlights the need to protect the Skylark's habitat, particularly during the breeding season.

The RSPB has recently purchased a 180-hectare farm in Cambridgeshire, which will be used to investigate and develop new wildlife-friendly farming methods to benefit bird species such as the Skylark.

Within Hull, local groups and individuals record sightings of Skylarks and other birds. These records are important to identify changes in population numbers and distribution.

ACTION PLAN AIMS

To monitor breeding and wintering numbers and distribution of Skylarks in Hull.
To manage grasslands as hay meadow to provide habitat and feeding grounds for the Skylark.

WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO

Action	Target	Partner	Aim
Policy and Legislation
No policy or legislation proposed.
Habitat Management and Protection
To manage grasslands as meadow to provide habitat and feeding grounds for the Skylark.	Ongoing: Manage Priory Meadows, Snuff Mill Fields and other species-rich grassland throughout the city as hay meadows.	KuHCC (Parks and Open Spaces, Planning)	2
Advisory
No advisory action proposed.
Future Research and Monitoring
Monitor breeding numbers, wintering numbers and distribution throughout Hull.	Ongoing: Continue monitoring and recording birds within Hull.	HVWG, EYB	1
Communications and Publicity
No communications or publicity proposed.

WHAT WE CAN ALL DO

Let the Biodiversity Partnership know if you see Skylarks in Hull.
Be aware of the need for areas of uncut grass to encourage and protect wildlife.

LINKS WITH OTHER ACTION PLANS

Habitat management will be very important for this bird and the Species Action Plan should be considered along with those for Trees, Scrub and Hedgerows, Grassland and Parks, Golf Courses and Cemeteries. It is likely that the implementation of this plan will also benefit other birds such as the Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Song Thrush and Linnet.

REFERENCES

Baillie, S.R., Crick, H.Q.P., Balmer, D.E., Bashford, R.I., Beaven, L.P., Freeman, S.N., Marchant, J.H., Noble, D.G., Raven, M.J., Siriwardena, G.M., Thewlis, R. and Wernham, C.V. (2001) Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside: their conservation status 2000. BTO Research Report 252. BTO, Thetford. (Retrieved January 2002 from http://www.bto.org/birdtrends)

Broughton, R.K. (2002) Birds of the Hull Area. Kingston Press, Hull.

Gibbons, D.W. (1993) New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991. Poyser, London.

RSPB (1996) Birds of Conservation Concern in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. RSPB, Sandy.

RSPB (2000) The Loss of Farmland Birds. RSPB, Sandy.

RSPB (2001) Wild Birds and the Law. RSPB, Sandy.

RSPB, FWAG, The Game Conservancy Trust (2000) Farming for Birds: Skylark. RSPB, Sandy.