EXTRA volunteers have been taken on to deal with the huge response to the RSPB Cymru Wildlife Postcard Campaign. The campaign calls on the government to invest more money into wildlife-friendly farming, and over the last few weeks RSPB supporters have sent around 1,000 postcards to First Minister Rhodri Morgan urging him to take steps to secure more money for agrienvironment schemes to improve conditions for countryside birds like yellowhammer and tree sparrow. Extra volunteers have been taken on in the RSPB's Cardiff office to monitor the volume of support for the campaign and keep track of the number of postcards being sent to the National Assembly. The charity believes investment in wildlife-friendly farming could make a big difference for birds like yellowhammers and tree sparrows, both of which have declined rapidly over the last few years. Yellowhammers were once a common countryside sight on hedges, wires and telegraph poles where their highly distinctive song could be heard all day. Over the last seven years a third of all yellowhammers have disappeared from Wales. Tim Stowe, director of RSPB Cymru, said he was delighted with the response to the campaign. "We run many projects in Wales to improve conditions for countryside birds with the support of farmers and landowners. "We are experiencing localised success but this work needs to be expanded across the whole country with the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices and greater agri-environment scheme funding." | 
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