Alula XIX (1-2): 87-96 (2012) 87 DECLINING IN EUROPE BUT INCREASING IN ITALY? PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS OF A POSSIBLE INCREASE OF ORTOLAN BUNTING Emberiza hortulana IN CENTRAL ITALY Federico Morelli (1) , Fabio Pruscini (1) & Mauro Furlani (1) University of Urbino, Campus Scientiico Enrico Mattei – 61029 Urbino, Italy federico.morelli@uniurb.it INTRODUCTION The Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana is one of many species of farmland birds whose populations are undergoing a steep decline in Europe (Newton, 2004; Don- ald et al., 2006). Over the last 20 years, its numbers have fallen continuously, while their distribution also appears to have suffered a signiicant drop in many European countries (Stolt, 1993; Dale & Hagen, 1997; Vepsäläinen et al., 2005). BirdLife In- ternational 2004 not refers to any country in which the populations of this species are increasing. Accordingly, this bird is considered to be in decline across most, if not all, of its European range, with only few cases of increasing, but in very particular situations (Brotons et al., 2008). Some countries, such as Finland, have reported as much as a 72% population loss over the last 20 years (Vepsäläinen et al., 2005). Findings such as these have led to the classiication of the species as SPEC 2 (i.e. global popula- tions concentrated in Europe with an unfavourable conservation status), while its Eu- ropean conservation status is recorded as ‘depleted’ (BirdLife International, 2004; IUCN, 2010). The bird is also protected under the EU Birds Directive (2009/147/ CE), where it is listed in Annex I. The reasons for this decline are not well under- stood, and identiication of the principal threats is complicated by the variability in available habitats across Europe (Goławski & Dombrowski, 2002; Berg, 2008; Menz et al., 2009). However, direct habitat loss and habitat degradation are considered to be the most likely causes of recent declines in farmland bird populations (Donald et al., 2001). Loss of habitat heterogeneity, changes in culture types and farming regimes, and widespread herbicide and pesticide application have led to massive reductions in food abundance and diversity during the breeding season, especially when it comes to invertebrates (Robinson et al., 2001; Newton, 2004). Yet it is also possible that the decline in the Ortolan Bunting population could be caused by losses incurred in its winter quarters (Stolt, 1993) or by the climatic changes that can affect the migration timing, causing a degree of mismatch with their food sources, with potential nega- tive results on breeding success (Møller et al., 2008). When it comes to breeding, the Bunting prefers open habitats, and also favours warm, dry areas with sparse vegetation and the presence of trees from roads cross-