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Research has shown that widespread farmland birds (skylarks and yellowhammers) have not declined in areas where 10-20% of the farmland has stubble through the winter. ELS stubbles are probably better than standard stubbles because of the lack of pre-harvest glyphosate.
Different species preferentially forage in stubbles of different heights. Gamebirds and skylarks prefer to forage in taller stubbles, as the the stubble then acts as effective cover from predators as well as a source of seed food. However, finches and buntings prefer shorter stubbles so that they can remain vigilant for approaching predators and dart into hedgerows in the event of a predator attack. Variable stubble height provides ideal habitat for the greatest range of species.
There is some evidence that light cultivation can temporarily boost seed availability in the stubbles after the initial flush of seed food has become depleted, and sequential scarification of strips can help feed seed-eating birds through the leaner times of late winter and early spring.
Refs:
Butler SJ, Bradbury RB and MJ Whittingham (2005) Stubble height affects the use of stubble fields by farmland birds. J App Ecol, 42: 469-476.
Whittingham MJ, Devereux CL, Evans AD and RB Bradbury (2006) Altering perceived predation risk and food availability: management prescriptions to benefit farmland birds on stubble fields. J App Ecol, 43: 640-650.
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