Stubble height affects the use of stubble fields by farmland birds

摘要: 1 In the UK, over-wintered stubbles are an important foraging habitat for farmland birds, many of which current conservation concern. Maximizing value birds has largely focused on increasing food abundance but ignored other aspects behaviour, such as predator avoidance and vigilance. 2 this study we investigated effects stubble height reduction seed depletion within-field distribution birds. Stubble one half each 20 fields was topped to lower vegetation height, while left untouched act a control area. 3 The granivorous passerines invertebrate feeders higher treatment plots, had undergone reduction, skylark partridges plots. Topping no effect either corvids or pigeons. 4 Seed densities both plot types fell between November March, there significant difference in levels 5 For species, accessibility detectability likely have been higher, thermo-energetic mobility costs lower, could led increase decrease associated predation risk, depending escape strategy species. Granivorous passerines, flee cover, benefited from reduced visual obstruction partridges, rely crypsis, will greater protection offered by longer 6 Synthesis applications. Increasing structural heterogeneity is its habitat, making it better suited requirements strategies diversity Incorporating explicit management options into agri-environment schemes, new Environmental Stewardship Scheme, may represent cost-effective achieve this.