skylarks nesting - long grass or short? (1 Viewer)

[stevew]

Possibly a silly question, but I'd appreciate a sensible answer.
I'm fairly sure Skylarks nest in my field. The field is cut only once a year. Will the birds nest in grass almost three and a half feet tall?

 

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Stevew,

Welcome to BirdForum!

They will nest if there's a few small bare and/or sparse patches where they can get in down to ground level, but if it is thick and uniformly high, then no

Michael

 

[Charles Harper]

Japanese Skylarks seem invariably to nest in very short grass patches-- which can be quite small in expanse, too.

 

[stevew]

Thanks for the information, gentlemen.
The problem then seems to be, how do I keep the grass short enough? It would seem obvious I can't mow - I'd mow the nests; so, any suggestions?

 

[Charles Harper]

Difficult. How about a goat?

 

[Michael Frankis]

Plough or rotovate some scattered small patches in early spring before they start nesting (early/mid March) - that should be enough

Michael

 

[scampo]

You might get meadow pipit, lapwing and yellow wagtail there, too! Is it, or can part of it be made into, a damp meadow?

 

[davebroadley]

At the RSPB's Grange Farm a 2 year experiment in leaving large unsown patches in fields led to an increase of upto 49% in skylarks. I'm sure if you got in touch with the regional office or theLodge, they will give you advice.
dave

 

[stevew]

SCAMPO - no, it's on top of a hill and drains well.
DAVE - thanks, good idea.

Thanks to all who've replied.

 

[alan_rymer]

I think the idea is you have several bare patches or patches of short grass to allow them to land, they will then move into and nest in the longer grass. From what I remember, the patches need only be about 10-20 square metres.