Farming adjustments could aid declining U.K. wading birds
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Researchers from the University of Aberdeen and Edinburgh Napier University discovered that adjusting the timing of farm conservation practices in the U.K. could help protect rapidly declining wading bird populations.
Between 1995 and 2024, Scotland experienced declines of 63% in lapwing, 41% in oystercatcher, and 62% in curlew, ground-nesting birds vulnerable to farm activity. The study focused on how changes in agricultural practices, like earlier and more frequent mowing and increased livestock, impact bird breeding success.
Currently, U.K. agri-environment schemes offer farmers payments for delaying mowing or livestock introduction to protect wildlife. However, these schemes apply uniform dates nationwide, which do not align with the varied breeding seasons of different bird species and locations. The researchers analyzed nesting data from organizations including the British Trust for Ornithology and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, revealing significant differences in breeding times.
Their analysis indicated that small adjustments, two to three weeks, to the timing of these conservation measures could substantially improve outcomes. They estimate nest protection from livestock could increase by 30% for lapwing and 57% for oystercatcher, while protection from mowing could rise by 35% for lapwing and 72% for oystercatcher. The team shared these recommendations with NatureScot, which advises the Scottish Government, hoping to improve the effectiveness of agri-environment schemes and support bird recovery across the U.K. and beyond.
