This guidance describes the requirements and Options appropriate for Chough.
Grassland and pasture management can benefit Chough by providing optimum conditions for successful breeding. Chough feed almost exclusively on invertebrates that are found in the soil and in animal dung. During the breeding season they forage for invertebrates in grasslands and pastures with short open swards. It is in these situations that they can efficiently locate the large amount of soil invertebrates (especially leatherjackets) needed during chick rearing. Feeding on dung-living invertebrates, especially those in cow dung, occurs throughout the year and it is important to avoid any potential reduction in dung invertebrates through the use of avermectin-based livestock wormers.
In-bye improved grass fields used as pasture and for mowing are often key feeding areas for breeding pairs. When the mowing fields are closed off the leatherjackets become unavailable to the Choughs. Optimum conditions during chick-rearing (to late June) are where there are both late closed-off fields for mowing and some permanently sheep-grazed grassland. At fledging time, from mid-June onwards family groups join into larger flocks and their feeding areas include silage aftermaths close to communal roosts. The aftermaths may only be of value for a few days so a spread of cutting dates is desirable.
Throughout the year Choughs forage in pastures with extensive grazing by domestic livestock (sheep and cattle). This mixed grazing pressure produces short grass swards often as part of a mosaic of vegetation types and structures rich in invertebrates.
The specific requirements for Chough are provision of:
- Sites that provide safe nesting and roosting spaces; sea cliffs and undisturbed farm buildings.
- Sites that provide food for chicks during the nestling period (April - late June): pasture fields grazed from April to late June; hay or silage fields that are grazed to late June before they are closed off to make hay or silage
- Sites that provide food for newly fledged Chough (late June - end of July): grass fields cut for hay or silage with a spread of cutting dates from late June through to late July
- Sites that provide food for Chough throughout the year, including the winter months: pasture and rough grazings extensively grazed to provide foraging areas throughout the year.
- The best results can be achieved where these provisions are made within a kilometre of Chough nesting areas, or close to communal roosts, planning for the whole farm or by co-ordinating with neighbours. You may wish to seek specialist advice to help you to select Options appropriate for the Chough found on your land.
You should choose which of the following Options will help deliver the outcome you have selected.
We suggest the following Options may all be appropriate.
These Options will only help achieve the desired outcome in specific circumstances. If you choose any Option for this Package, the application system will ask you to explain how you see this Option helping to achieve the outcome. You can select as many, or as few, Options as you think you will need. You must judge which Options will most effectively deliver the desired outcomes taking account of your circumstances.
These Options will help to achieve the desired outcome in specific circumstances:
List of links to relevant technical guidance
Back to Bird list
Back to Package