FARMBIRD

Across the wide, windswept landscapes of Northwest Europe, a quiet crisis has been unfolding. For generations, farmland birds have filled these fields with movement and song, following ancient routes along the Atlantic Flyway. This region—stretching from Ireland to the Netherlands—has long been one of their most vital resting and feeding grounds. But over the past 40 years, something has changed.

The numbers have fallen. Dramatically.

What was once a familiar presence in the countryside is now becoming increasingly rare. These declines are more than just a loss of birds—they are warning signs of a deeper problem. The disappearance of farmland species reflects a broader decline in biodiversity across Northwest Europe. Changing landscapes, intensified agriculture, shrinking habitats, and growing pressures from predation have all played a role. Bit by bit, the balance between nature and land use has been disrupted.

But this is not just a story of loss—it is also one of collaboration, innovation, and hope.

Across five regions—Friesland in the Netherlands, Weser-Ems in Germany, Normandy and the Loire Valley in France, Flanders in Belgium, and Cork in Ireland—partners are coming together with a shared mission: to protect and restore farmland bird populations. By working across borders, they aim to tackle a challenge that no single region can solve alone.

At the heart of this effort lies a simple but powerful idea: to understand what is happening, we must first observe it better.

This is where FARMBIRD begins.

The project brings together 11 partners to rethink how we monitor birds and their habitats. Instead of relying solely on traditional methods, FARMBIRD combines cutting-edge technologies—such as drones, satellite imagery, and automated data analysis powered by artificial intelligence. These tools make it possible to gather more accurate data, faster and across larger areas than ever before.

But technology alone is not the answer.

FARMBIRD also focuses on people—on farmers, conservationists, volunteers, and citizens who are closest to the land. By involving them directly in monitoring efforts and equipping them with new skills and tools, the project builds a shared sense of responsibility. It transforms bird conservation from a distant goal into a collective action.

Through training programmes and hands-on collaboration, participants learn how to apply these innovative methods in real-world settings. Together, they test solutions, refine approaches, and develop strategies that can be used not just locally, but across Europe and beyond.

The vision is clear: healthier bird populations, more resilient landscapes, and smarter, data-driven decisions that support both agriculture and biodiversity.

FARMBIRD is not just about counting birds. It is about reconnecting people, land, and nature—using innovation to ensure that the skies above Europe’s farmlands remain alive with wings for generations to come.