APPENDIX XII
UNHARVESTED CROPS - SEED MIXES
One year option
This relies on annuals that seed in the first year and therefore does not need to include hardy biennials, namely kale. The value to birds is that there is a large amount of seed in the first winter, and if this crop is renewed annually this seed supply can be maintained. Cereal seeds such as oats do not persist into the second year of a 2 year option, and for grain feeding species such as yellowhammers and corn buntings this one year option is the most useful. Some farmers may wish to supplement the grain supply with feed hoppers, which attract corn buntings and other grain feeders.
The one year option is more expensive for farmers as the seed and cultivation costs are borne each year, whereas the 2 year option spreads them over 2 years, despite payment rates being the same for both options.
Suggested one year mix
Percentage of mix kg/ha
Oats Dula 60% 110
Quinoa 15% 1.5
Oil seed rape 10% 0.75
Mustard 5% 0.5
Linseed 5 % 3.0
Red clover (as the legume) 5% 0.5
See list below for prices and sowing rates. Farmers may have their own left-over seed from previous crops, particularly for commonly grown crops such as oil seed rape. This would reduce the cost and influence the choice of mixture components. Try to maximise the range of crops within the mix as different birds like different seeds eg corn bunting have large beaks and need cereals, birds with small beaks like linnet feed on oil seed rape. Seeds are produced at different times of year and last for varying periods so maximising diversity of seed availability will optimise the benefits to birds and will also allow for potential failure of one crop type.
Oats are the best cereal as the seed is smaller and more palatable to a wider range of birds than barley. Oats are hardier, require fewer inputs and stand through the winter better than other cereals. Triticale is widely used in game crops as it is robust, rabbit resistant and stands well through the winter but it has a very large seed that few birds other than pheasants can eat. However, it does provide the required cereal component and where rabbits are a problem could be used instead of oats.
Two year option.
This has to include kale as this is the only suitable biennial to seed in the second year. Several varieties of kale are available and can be combined to provide different canopy heights and insurance against one variety failing. Caledonian kale is more club root resistant than other varieties but is more expensive. The most widely used variety is Scotland is 1000 Headed kale.
A brassica mix called Glamis has been successfully used at Tullo farm and RSPB reserves and is sown at 2.5 kg/acre. (6.2 kg/ha) It contains:
Kale, Maris kestrel 0.5kg
Kale, Keeper 0.5kg
Kale, Caledonian 0.5kg
Rape, Hobson 0.5kg
Oil seed rape, Kulta 0.25kg
Mustard 0.25kg
Kale can be used with any of the crops listed for the one year option or others from the list below. The Glamis mix with quinoa and oats provides a range of seeds. Quinoa is a giant form of the weed fat-hen and produces a large amount of seed that attracts high numbers of many species of birds. It is not widely grown in the north of Scotland, possibly because the seed is more expensive than other crops, although it grows well in Perthshire and potentially could be successful further north.
In the second year the main source of seeds comes from the seeding kale, plus volunteer rape. However, a large amount of seeds could be available from weed seeds if the crop is weedy. Weeds are an important component of this crop and can be more valuable as a food source than the crop itself. Research has shown that the weedier the crop, the more birds it will support, but this has to be balanced against the need for the other crop components to establish.
Excessive amounts of weeds such as docks and thistles will be unpopular with farmers, who may prefer the one year option which does not allow the build up of perennial weeds to such an extent.
Kale provides feeding habitat for insectivores such as dunnock and song thrush which feed under the canopy. The 2 year option enables the small mammal population to establish, attracting barn owl, kestrel etc.
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