Fields for the yellowhammer

Yellowhammer

The yellowhammer was a common bird in the Maasheggen area. In recent years, however, it has been rapidly disappearing from the landscape. Although the yellowhammer has actually increased in the northeastern Netherlands, its numbers in Maasheggen have been declining very rapidly over the past 15 years. And that has to do with the fact that the yellowhammer needs both grain and insects.

Birding

To restore the yellowhammer's numbers, the Collective Delta Landscape Plan began planting the first four bird acres at various locations in 2018 at Maasheggen. These fields are designed to allow the yellowhammer to make optimal use of them.

The bird field is an idea of the Knowledge Center for Arable Birds. They have a lot of experience with bird fields throughout the Netherlands - but not yet on the rich clay soil of the Maasheggen. Together with a number of arable farmers who participate in our Collective Deltaplan Landscape and the information from the Knowledge Center, we have developed our own variant - especially for the yellowhammer in the Maasheggen. Our own bird fields are designed to fit in with the small-scale character of the Maasheggen. That means that they can only be a few hectares in size. And a hedge always surrounds the bird field. This is because the yellowhammer breeds in those hedges - from April to August.

A bird field consists alternately of two strips: one with alfalfa and one with herbs. Lucerne is an ideal crop. Lucerne has little trouble with pesky insects and has a positive effect on the soil; it gives the soil more structure. The alfalfa strip is mowed twice a year, otherwise the alfalfa becomes too woody and rough. Among the alfalfa are many insects that serve as food for young yellowhammers. In addition, the cut alfalfa is used as protein-rich cattle feed.

The strips of grain mixture contain seeds that serve as food for the yellowhammer in winter. It also provides shelter for the birds if they are attacked by sparrows, for example. In fact, the grain mixture remains in place during the winter.

A participant in the Collective Delta Landscape Plan is preparing the ground.

Together with farmers from the Collective Delta Landscape Plan

The success of a bird field hinges on the involvement of farmers in the area. You need not only ecological knowledge but also agricultural experience. When to sow, how to make sure weed pressure stays low without using agricultural poisons, how best to get the soil through the winter - in the end, a bird field is an agricultural product. It must be sown and mowed, just like a plot of wheat.

This is just the beginning

The first bird acres were recently mowed for the first time. Four more bird acres will be added next year! Although these bird acres were created specifically for the yellowhammer, numerous species of insects, butterflies, and small mammals will benefit along with them. We also hope to encounter partridges here.