Wet grasslands are amongst the most exciting of places to
watch birds in the spring. Breeding waders can be found
in higher densities than anywhere else in lowland Britain,
while on larger sites, Skylarks abound and Yellow Wagtails,
scarce ducks such as Garganey and even birds of prey such
as Marsh Harriers can frequently be found.
It is now 20 years since the last comprehensive
survey of breeding waders in this fantastic but interminably
threatened habitat. A partial survey in 1989 highlighted
the rapid changes in bird numbers on wet meadows with Lapwing
and Snipe decreasing alarmingly in just seven years since
the 1982 survey, while conversely Oystercatcher numbers
increased. We know from other surveys that wader populations
levels have continued to change in recent years but have
little data from many of the most important wader breeding
grounds in lowland England & Wales.
The use and abuse
of our floodplains has made headline news in recent years
as winter floodwaters have inundated a succession of towns
across the country. The potential conservation value of
natural flood defences, such as flood meadows, has to be
at the forefront of any forward planning for river catchments.
This timely survey, organised jointly by the RSPB (www.rspb.org.uk),
BTO, English Nature (www.english-nature.org.uk)
and Defra (www.defra.gov.uk)
has updated our knowledge of the status of waders on well
over 1000 sites across England and Wales. |
