RSPB Hopes for Corn Bunting

Recovery of "fat bird of the barley" in the Scottish Borders?

Bird song is a real pleasure on any walk, whether you are out in the middle of countryside with no other sounds or in the centre of town where birds can help to distract you from the incessant and unwelcome sounds of urbanisation. So I am always pleased to hear when hopes are rising that another songbird's numbers could be on the recovery in an area..

Now there is excitement at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) over the sighting of a small group of corn buntings in the Scottish Borders. It is significant because the bird had been thought to have died out in the area after the last sighting a few years ago had been of a single calling male.

The RSPB are urging farmers and the public to call them if they see any corn buntings in the Borders. If you think you have seen a corn bunting in the Borders, please contact RSPB Scotland with a time, date and location (and grid reference if possible) on: glasgow@rspb.org.uk

If you need help recognising the corn bunting then click on this image. Our largest bunting, it became know as the "fat bird of the barley" due to the way that it often perches conspicuously and puffs out its chest when singing.

Its song is also very distinctive and often likened to a jangling of keys. A recording of its song and other information on the corn bunting can be found on the RSPB website.