How to sustain meadow passerine populations in Europe through alternative mowing management

• Mowing postponement to late July led to higher territory density in meadow passerines.
• No negative density dependent effect on hatching success was observed.
• Intermittent mowing (not every year) was also related to higher territory density.
• Territory densities were lower in subsequent years after mowing (from July 10).
• Alternative mowing regimes may help to sustain meadow bird populations in Europe.

Two decades of agri-environmental policy did not prevent a long term decline of grassland birds in Europe. Additional measures are therefore needed to sustain the populations. This study explored alternative mowing management regimes likely to secure demographic sources in the early mown grassland systems of western Europe, and to limit habitat loss after farming abandonment in countries of the former Eastern Bloc. Postponing grass cutting until after mid-July from 2009 to 2014 in half of the area of 4 study sites (29–55 ha each) in the Saône Valley (France), led to increased territory density and improved hatching success. Bird response however was species-specific: Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra territory density benefited the most from the alternative management, Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava territory distribution tended to match the late mown areas, whereas the Whinchat Saxicola rubetra did not change its initial distribution. Temporary interruption of mowing in 8 meadow units (11.7–15.1 ha) of the Moskva Valley (Central Russia) was similarly correlated with higher territory density. Whinchat territory density decreased after one single year of mowing. After two consecutive years of mowing, Whinchat hatching success was lower and the Lesser Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola werae virtually disappeared. The tested alternative mowing regimes may therefore locally increase population density without negative density dependent effects on hatching rates. Implementing rotational mowing could reduce habitat loss caused by farming abandonment in Russia. Postponing mowing until after mid-July in patches of hay fields may sustain meadow bird demography in the remaining strongholds of western Europe.