These species are at risk and urgently need our help. With your support, we can work to reverse their declines and create a brighter future for these wonderful birds.
The swooping display and ‘pee-wit’ calls of breeding Lapwing and the haunting cry of a Curlew are some of the most iconic sights and sounds of the countryside. Yet, with breeding waders in serious decline, these displays and calls could become a distant memory.
Both Lapwing and Curlew populations have declined by over 50% in the last 30 years, and currently, only one in eight Curlew chicks survives. Other breeding waders face declines too:
Breeding numbers have fallen rapidly by 45% since 1995
Rare breeding populations are under threat from habitat loss
Its mournful fluty call, evocative of wild places, is now even rarer
While conservation efforts – such as agri-environment schemes, habitat restoration and the creation of protected areas – could help stem some declines, we need to do more and we need to do it now.
Waders are one of our most threatened groups of birds, with BTO data documenting severe declines in recent years. We urgently need to identify the most effective solutions to improve nest and chick survival. This is why BTO has made waders a top priority and why we are asking for you to donate – so we can do more to restore populations.
... use tracking tags to investigate why Scotland’s Western Isles can support some of the highest densities of breeding waders in Europe
... evaluate whether headstarting (collecting wild eggs, rearing chicks in captivity and releasing them at fledgling age) is a viable solution for Curlew recovery
... assess the benefits of peatland restoration for waders like Golden Plover and Dunlin, and promote these approaches to other sites
With your support, we can find the most effective ways to protect breeding waders, ensuring their beautiful calls and displays grace our skies for many years to come.
Read more about our breeding wader research.