Conservation groups have demanded that the environment department makes "every pound count" in its new wildlife-friendly farming scheme, after official figures released on Thursday revealed another huge drop in the number of farmland birds in Britain.

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Defra is reforming agri-environment schemes in light of the new Common Agricultural Policy, but the RSPB said this week that more needs to be done, as figures show iconic species reliant on farmland, including turtle dove, skylark and yellowhammer, continue to  suffer.

The Government’s Farmland Bird Indicator, which tracks the health of 19 bird species entirely dependent on farmland habitats, showed another fall in numbers between 2012 and 2013. RSPB said that, although the falls may be driven in part by exceptionally bad weather in 2012, it remains clear that "the underlying steady decline of the UK Farmland Bird Indicator has continued."

Farmland bird species have declined by an average of 10 per cent over the last five years. The UK Farmland Bird Indicator has declined by 55 per cent since 1970. The overall decline disguises some drastic trends; 'specialist' species – which are highly dependent on farmland habitat – have suffered to a much greater degree. Four species of specialist, the grey partridge, turtle dove, tree sparrow and corn bunting, have suffered declines of over 85 percent since 1970.

Conservationists urged the governments to ensure that farm payments for wildlife-friendly farming under the New Environmental Land Management Scheme (NELMS) are well spent, directing funds to farmers who can make the greatest contribution towards conserving farmland wildlife, and those who have the potential to begin restoring farmland bird populations.

RSPB conservation director Martin Harper commented, "The sights and sounds of birds like the skylark and the turtle dove are part of our culture and yet, swathes of our countryside are falling silent as their numbers continue to haemorrhage."

"Many farmers are already doing some great things through these schemes and without the schemes and farmers' help, today’s figures would be, undoubtedly, worse. But we need more to step up if our farm wildlife is to recover. As shown in last year’s State of Nature report, the declines in farmland birds are replicated in other species as well, especially farmland butterflies, moths and ground-dwelling beetles."

The State of Nature report was produced by RSPB in conjunction with 24 other wildlife organisations. The report paints a grim picture of the UK's natural environment, demonstrating that 60 percent of observed wild species have declined in the past five decades.

"Nature is in crisis," Harper warned. "If we carry on like this, it may be too late for the wildlife that calls our countryside home." 

"Defra has proposed a new scheme for the next six years that could help to address these declines. The key now is following through on these proposals to ensure that the right actions are targeted to save these precious species. Only then will the pubic get value for money in the form of a countryside richer in nature."

Though farmland birds took a hit last year, woodland birds remained stable (though numbers have fallen significantly since late twentieth century levels). Numbers of water birds, on the other hand, have fallen more rapidly in recent years, as have sea bird numbers.

The NFU said some birds have shown population increases in the timeframe studied, and claimed that it would be wrong to place the blame on one industry for falls in bird numbers.

In September, the NFU and CLA welcomed Natural England's decision to drop the 'No satisfactory alternative' legal proposals, also known as the 'Shoo before you shoot' rule. The decision means general licence users will not have to take "appropriate steps to resolve pest problems" before killing birds belonging to certain species.

NFU countryside adviser Claire Robinson said at the time, "Farmers up and down the country need to control certain bird species on their land as they can cause serious damage to growing crops, particularly oilseed rape, feeding on young plants before they are established. Shooting is just one of the tools used alongside others including scarecrows, imitation animals and even falconry."

Natural England's decision affects Jackdaws, Jays and Collared Doves and now Egyptian Geese.