Contrasting patch selection of breeding Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella in set-aside and cereal crops

Published source details Douglas D.J.T., Benton T.G. & Vickery J.A. (2010) Contrasting patch selection of breeding Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella in set-aside and cereal crops. Bird Study, 57, 69-74.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Provide or retain set-aside areas in farmland Action Link
	Provide or retain set-aside areas in farmland Action Link

Provide or retain set-aside areas in farmland

A small study on four farms in Aberdeenshire, north east Scotland, in summer 2005 (Douglas et al. 2010) found that yellowhammers from ten nests preferentially foraged on set-aside land, compared to cereal fields, but that this preference was not significant (set-aside comprising 23% of available habitat but used for 42% of foraging flights vs. cereals comprising 42% of habitat and being used 25% of the time).
Provide or retain set-aside areas in farmland

A site comparison study on four farms in Aberdeenshire, northeast Scotland, in summer 2005 (Douglas et al. 2010) found that yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella from ten nests preferentially foraged on set-aside land, compared to cereal fields, but that this preference was not significant (set-aside comprising 23% of available habitat but used for 42% of foraging flights vs cereals comprising 42% of habitat and being used 25% of the time). The authors suggest that the lack of significance may be due to small sample sizes.