Effect of Sky Lark plots and additional tramlines on territory densities of the Sky Lark <i>Alauda</i> <i>arvensis</i> in an intensively managed agricultural landscape

Abstract

Capsule: Sky Lark plots and additional tramlines increase Sky Lark Alauda arvensis territory densities in winter crops.Aims: To analyse the effects on Sky Lark territory density of Sky Lark plots and additional tramlines in winter cereals and oilseed rape.Methods: We mapped Sky Lark territories on fields with Sky Lark plots or additional tramlines as well as on adjacent control sites, from 2010 to 2013 in Saxony, Germany, where agricultural land use is intensive, dominated by winter-sown crops and takes place in large fields.Results: In test sites with Sky Lark plots, 5.6 and 3.1 territories per 10 ha were found in the early (April/May) and late periods (June/July) respectively, compared to 3.3 and 1.4 territories per 10 ha in control sites. Sky Lark territory densities in fields with additional tramlines were 1.6 times higher in the early period (4.2 versus 2.6 territories per 10 ha) and 2.2 times higher in the late period (3.6 versus 1.6 territories per 10 ha).Conclusion: Sky Lark plots and additional tramlines improve large fields for the Sky Lark and have the potential to increase the Sky Lark population.