Habitat management for Red–backed Shrike, Lanius collurio, conservation in farmland systems

The Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola, North-Eastern Piedmont, carried out a LIFE-Nature project during the period 2003-2007. The project focused on a Natura 2000 site, located along the middle course of river Toce. One of the interventions was directed at the conservation of the breeding population of Lanius collurio through dedicated management of lowland hay meadows (with maintenance of unmown portions) and shrublands (with increasing habitat openness in overgrown shrublands). Those interventions resulted an increase in the local breeding population of the species from 9 to 25 pairs in 5 years.