Factors influencing the success of within-field AES fallow plots as key sites for the Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus in an industrialised agricultural landscape of Central Europe

Abstract

Unsown fallow plots, commonly referred to as ‘lapwing plots’, are widely promoted within the English agri-environmental programme, but remain unstudied outside of England. We tested Lapwing plots in an industrialised agricultural landscape in Central Europe from 2010 to 2015. Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) and other birds as well as plant species were mapped. Factors influencing the success of the plots were modelled to obtain information on how to design a well-working agri-environment scheme (AES).Lapwings were present at 65% of the 61 lapwing plots studied, whereas colonisation of untreated control sites was significantly lower (37%). 64 lapwing pairs bred at 26 lapwing plots, but only 18 pairs at nine untreated sites. Hatching success was significantly higher than without treatment (24 pairs at 11 lapwing plots vs. 3 pairs at 2 control sites). Other species which benefitted from the measures were Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) and Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava).The modelling of key factors showed that a successful lapwing plot should be: (1) large (at least about 2ha); (2) located at a traditional breeding site; (3) sparsely vegetated; and, (4) equipped with a shallow pool of water. Placing them in winter cereals improved hatching success.Lapwing plots at damp sites are a promising AES for lapwing conservation in industrialised agricultural landscapes in Central Europe.