The sight of woodlark in England has brought back smiles on the environmentalists and bird lovers as they are returning to the countryside. Once declared most critically endangered birds of the region the bird is now seeing its comeback with its number going up to 3,084 pairs from 1,633 pairs in ten years.
Though it is great news but conservationists also fear that this comeback may be short lived as the birds’ nest on the ground and lay upto 6 eggs at a time. But the ground that is also the birds invaluable source of food and nesting sites may now be used to increase the production of biofuels.
Sue Armstrong-Brown, the RSPB’s (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) head of conservation has welcomed the return of the woodlark and has also cautioned that the wastelands should be restored and managed so as to provide right conditions for nesting the birds.
The bird became a matter of concern in the area, during 1980s when its number went down drastically in previous 20 years. The survival became even tough in 1986, as only 241 breeding pairs were left in the region.
Traditional farmland in the south west of England and Wales, and the loss of heath land across the UK also added to the decline of the woodlarks despite the introduction of the European agricultural policy that proved savior for the birds in 1990.
The ornithologists have credited the comeback to the maintenance of heaths and forests as it has helped the bird to breed successfully.
Source: BBC
