NOORDEN B VAN (1991) A glimpse of hope for the Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana?. LIMOSA 64 (2): 69-71.

The size of the Dutch breeding population of Ortolan Bunting has been decreasing during the past five decades or longer. During 1975-84 a sharp decline took place, probably due mainly to large-scale replacement of cereals by green maize. Stabilization at a low level of about 3040 pairs was recorded during 1985-90 (fig. I). Local populations fluctuated considerably in this period (fig. 2) but, in general, the species persisted better in the southern half of the country than in the northern half (fig. 1,3). In 198590 only five atlas-squares (5 x 5 km) were occupied annually. Although prospects for the Ortolan Bunting in The Netherlands are gloomy, a tiny glimpse of hope is left. In 1989 (I) and 1990 (3) territories were established in heatherland in Limburg, in the southeast of the country. The territories were situated at distances of 100, 750 and more than 1000 m from nearest farmland. This habitat is quite different from typical Dutch Ortolan breeding-habitat: small scale farmland with cereals (especially rye) bordered by deciduous trees (especially oak). In fact, the habitat resembled that in the north of Sweden. Maybe the Dutch Ortolan Buntings will discover a new, and probably less endangered, breeding habitat? Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana

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