Vertragsnaturschutz für Feldvögel im Europäischen Vogelschutzgebiet Hellwegbörde (NRW) – Ergebnisse und Perspektiven

Abstract

The agricultural area “Hellwegbörde” in Northrhine-Westphalia was designated as special protection area for Montague´s Harrier and other birds of open farmland. Agri-environmental schemes to improve habitat quality were offered to local farmers since 2002. At the level of singular measures these allowed to increase density and species diversity of farmland birds during the breeding season as well as in winter, among others Skylark and Grey Partridge. It can be assumed that these measures also improved food availability (vole and small birds) for Montague´s Harrier. At the landscape level, however, these isolated measures were not sufficient to counterbalance the negative effects of loss of set aside land and increased cultivation of Maize as energy crop. Therefore, no increases of Skylark and Grey Partridge on larger study plots were found. Likewise, Montague´s Harrier, Corncrake and Corn Bunting are declining within the special protection area “Hellwegbörde”. To stabilize farmland bird populations on the landscape level, a sufficient proportion of landscape elements of high ecological quality is necessary.

Keywords

• Vertragsnaturschutz
• Feldvögel
• Hellwegbörde
• Vogelschutzgebiet
• agri-environmental measures
• farmland birds
• special protection areas