Intensity of agricultural land-use and farmland birds in the Baltic States

There was a clear indication that the more intensively farmed areas across the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania provided habitat for fewer bird species and individuals. The abundance of farmland specialist birds was significantly lower by 20% in the more intensive areas as compared to less intensive ones. The difference could partly be explained by the more heterogeneous landscape and field areas in the latter. An analysis of the data from homogeneous arable fields indicated that agricultural intensification was reflected in a tangible decrease in farmland bird abundance, especially in species in need of edge structures. Considerable improvements are needed in conservation safeguards for the region facing intensification of production.