Avoidance of high-risk linear structures by Skylarks in the early breeding season and implications for conservation management

Linear structures in winter cereals like tramlines are frequently used but high-risk nesting sites for Eurasian Skylarks when crop vegetation becomes impenetrable during May. However, their influence on nest-site selection before vegetation greatly limits choice is less studied. Between 2017 and 2019, we located 32 nests in winter cereals during the early breeding season and show that Skylarks nested 2 m further away from linear structures than expected if nest location was random. We interpret this avoidance as anti-predation behavior and propose additional tramline fragments for conservation management. Moreover, we confirm earlier findings about a higher nest predation risk on linear structures and a shifting of nesting sites towards them in the later breeding season.