Every year, millions of wading birds around the world migrate away from their breeding grounds to warmer, food-rich areas such as coastlines and estuaries. This poses a challenge. For these birds to thrive throughout their lives we must protect them in both their breeding and wintering areas. There is no point protecting eggs and chicks if their winter roosts are disturbed, damaged or destroyed. That means, for many populations, they need protection in at least two different countries.
Curlews that breed in the UK move away from inland fields and upland areas to coastal areas for the winter months. Some stay close to home and go to our own beaches and estuaries, but others fly to Ireland, France, Spain or Portugal. Meanwhile, 150,000 Curlews arrive from northern Europe to spend the winter on the UK’s warm and wet coastline. It is vital we protect these wintering birds.
Photo by Neville Davies
One challenge Curlews and other wintering waders face is disturbance. Often unaware of the issues, dog walkers let their pets chase birds on beaches and mudflats. In addition, recreational activities such as wind and kite-surfing, sailing, powerboating , jogging, canoeing and flying drones can cause the birds to take flight.
With winter’s short days and cold temperatures, birds must keep feeding to replenish their energy and to build up fat reserves, without this they will die. Disturbance causes birds to constantly move around, which not only stops them feeding it also uses precious energy which can put their health and even their survival at risk. Most food is available to wading birds during low tide when they can access larger areas of mud and sand rich in shellfish and marine invertebrates. The shoreline is as rich in goodies for wading birds as a packed buffet is for us. They really need these precious hours of feeding to maximise their calories. Unfortunately, this can coincide with peak human activity, particularly dog walking. If dogs chase the birds as they run along the beach, the birds simply can’t eat enough to replace energy and build up reserves for the long migration in the spring back to their breeding grounds. It's exactly like us being constantly disturbed when trying to eat our dinner.
Photo by @ecology_cymru
Continued disturbance of feeding wading birds (called shorebirds in America) can result in the significant decline of bird densities in previously popular wintering sites. This is very worrying for the birds, but it also affects those of us who love to watch the large and sometimes spectacular flocks of many different species, a yearly winter spectacle.
Visiting nature reserves, beaches and other places where waders and other wildlife may be seen is a wonderful way to connect with the nature around you, but it is important to avoid disturbing the wildlife we so love. Follow these steps to ensure that winter wader watching will go continue for generations to come:
- Stick to footpaths and be aware of the area around you – if birds are there, consider changing your route to avoid disturbing them
- Always obey signs telling you to avoid certain areas for the sake of wildlife at certain times of year
- Keep dogs on leads so that they cannot chase birds. There will be areas where it is fine to let them off, but please be mindful of the sites where birds like to feed. In these places, keep strictly to footpaths and keep dogs on a short lead so that they cannot run off the path. Before visiting a nature reserve or other area where you are likely to encounter wintering birds, check if dogs are allowed.
- Make sure children are told to keep a respectful distance from wildlife. It is up to us to teach them how to share our world with wild creatures whilst learning the joy of watching wildlife and about what birds need to survive. If using the sea for recreation, please ensure feeding and roosting areas are given a wide berth. If they stop feeding and look alarmed, you are too close.
Photo by Liam O'hara
For the sake of the Curlew and all other birds, please be mindful of the impact of bird disturbance.