CORN BUNTING & TREE SPARROW
RECOVERY PROJECT

A recovery project has been launched to reverse the dramatic decline of two well-known bird species in Suffolk.  The tree sparrow and corn bunting are facing extinction as breeding and wintering birds, with declines over the last thirty years or so of 95% and 77% respectively.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT), Suffolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), English Nature and Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group (SOG) have joined forces and launched an initiative in an attempt to prevent the extinction of these species.  Through targeted advice and action it is hoped that remnant populations of these species can be safeguarded and then increased through farmers entering into the most appropriate land management options under the Environmental Stewardship Scheme.

To provide targeted advice to landowners we need up to date information on the whereabouts of tree sparrows and corn buntings.  In 2004 we did not receive any breeding records for the two species, so we really need your help (there has got be some breeding out there somewhere).  Please send in your sightings (species name, location, grid reference, date and name and address of finder) to:

Suffolk Biological Records Centre, c/o Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3QH

or 

Mick Wright, telephone 01473 710032, email: micktwright@btinternet.com