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Skylark
(Alauda arvensis)
Habitat
Semi-improved Grassland
Skylark on the Greatham Site
Skylark breed on site and are fairly common residents. There are small
areas of semi-improved grassland on site which provide suitable habitat,
as well as some areas of unimproved grassland with grass of lower
sward height and less density. Skylark favour lightly grazed grassland,
and the semi-improved grassland on site is suitably grazed by Rabbit
and Brown Hare.
Status in UK and Europe
There has been a considerable decline. There are an estimated 2,000,000
breeding territories in Britain and 570,000 in Ireland.
Local Status
Common breeding bird with an estimated population of 700-900 breeding
pairs. Has been in decline over the last 10-20 years.
Objectives for Skylark on the Greatham Site
- Assess the current level of breeding Skylark on site.
- Attempt
to increase numbers and breeding success of Skylark on site.
Management Plan for Skylark on the Greatham Site
- Continue monitoring to assess the current level of breeding Skylark
on site. This can be used to compare against future numbers to assess
any increase in breeding success.
- Investigate the possibility of inserting boundary features such
as hedgerow, as mentioned in the management plan for semi-improved
grassland, would be very beneficial to Skylark.
- Active management
of the semi-improved grassland on site. This could involve allowing
grass to grow longer next to boundary features,
and ensuring that the semi-improved grassland remains short and does not
become overgrown.
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