Farm experiment shows bird populations thrive with crop residue
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Farmer Alastair Leake and the Allerton Project in the United Kingdom are testing how different planting methods affect local bird populations.
Leake is comparing two sides of a field to see which attracts more wildlife. One side features winter wheat grown in ploughed soil, while the other side features crops drilled into a carpet of stems and stubble from previous harvests. Leake observed that birds consistently land and feed on the side with crop residue rather than the ploughed side.
This experiment suggests that maintaining plant waste on the land provides a better habitat for birds. The project aims to provide a recipe for reversing the sharp decline in bird populations across the country.
