HUSTINGS F, SCHEPERS F & ELLENBROEK F (1995) The Com Bunting Miliaria calandra in the first half ofthe 1990s. LIMOSA 68 (4): 159-162.

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Probably as a result of adverse changes in farming practices, the Dutch breeding population of the Com Bunting decreased from about 1200 territories in 1975 to 150 in 1989. In that period, the species disappeared completely as a breeding bird from the NE of the country. The breeding distribution in 1990-94 (Fig. 1) suggests that the range contraction has not yet stopped. In recent years, the national numbers of territories have been estimated at 60-80 (1991-92), 80-100 (1990, 1993) and 100-120 (1994). ~he sligh~ly larger numbers in 1994 were caused by an Increase In grassland areas along the river Meuse in the SE of the country. Here, unusually extensive inundations occurred in December 1993. In areas where normal, intensive farming was not possible during spring and summer, 70 territories were counted, about 2-3 times more than in other years (Fig. 2). In other parts of The Netherlands, 1994 was not an exceptionally good year for Com Buntings. At the moment, the river forelands constitute the most promising area in The Netherlands with regard to the species' survival as a breeding bird. Although the decline in breeding numbers here since the mid 1970s is estimated at about 70%, numbers seem to stabilise by now. Moreover, the species might benefit from recently started nature-development projects in which intensively managed farmland is gradually turned into more natural habitat (including extensively grazed pastures). For Com Buntings breeding on arable land, prospects are b~eak as th~ steep decline in breeding numbers (95% SInce the mId 1970s) continues, and as habitat improvement here is unlikely.

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