Farmers urged to help birds survive

Farmers across Wales were last night urged to tap into environmental projects to help save the country's birdlife.

A major study, the State of Birds in Wales, revealed growing concerns for curlew, yellow hammers and tree sparrows.

The number of hen harriers also hit 43 breeding pairs, a rise of 50% in six years.

Reg Thorpe, RSPB Cymru species team manager, said: "The data collected is helping us to direct our finite resources to the species that are of the highest conservation priority in Wales.

"Birds of farmed habitats in Wales have declined further in recent years and their abundance is now at its lowest for a decade.

"Many species may respond to agri-environment schemes and maps of key bird areas will be used in the new scheme, Tir Cynnal, to make sure the best options for yellow hammers and tree sparrows are targeted to the places these birds are still found."