| CASE STUDY - AVON VALLEY WADERS
Giving LIFE to waders
0.7
fledged young per pair per annum are needed to maintain a stable lapwing population
Lizzie Grayshon reflects on the success of the LIFE Waders for Real project for recovering waders, understanding predators and working together The lapwing is one of the nation’s favourite birds, with its Over the course of the project, the average annual figure distinctive crest, flight pattern and ‘peewit’ call heralding for the hotspots where habitat and predator managethe arrival of spring. Only a generation ago, large flocks ment were focused, went from 0.51 to 0.75 fledged of lapwing were a familiar sight across the country, but chicks per pair. Redshank numbers have also increased the population has fallen by 80% since dramatically from 19 to 35 pairs, and 1960 in England and Wales. Lapwings There were 61 pairs initial signs of snipe returning to breed remain in decline and on the UK’s have been observed. Waders for Real on the study area in has demonstrated how, given the red list of endangered species. Over the last five years you may have 2015 rising to 105 in right kind of funding, advice and read about the LIFE Waders for encouragement, and by working 2019. But the greatest with conservation experts, farmers Real project and the exciting work the project team and land managers achievement has been can boost biodiversity in the wider have been doing in the Avon Valley. working countryside. improving breeding The project came to an end at the beginning of 2020, which gives us success, which is critical Understanding and limiting predation an opportunity to reflect on the to reversing declines The foundation of most successful successes for waders, conservation conservation projects is providing and policy from the project. enough good-quality habitat, but this Wader recovery alone is not always sufficient. In the Avon Valley, despite Since the project began, the numbers of lapwing started the creation of plenty of suitable habitat, predation of to rise. There were 61 pairs on the study area in 2015 lapwing nests and chicks was too high to maintain a rising to 105 in 2019. But the greatest achievement has stable number of breeding pairs. Temporary electricbeen improving breeding success, which is critical to fencing around nests proved successful at improving reversing declines. To remain stable, a local population hatching success. The lethal control of foxes, crows needs to fledge an average of 0.7 chicks per pair each and American mink carried out by gamekeepers and year. Prior to the project, annual lapwing productivity riverkeepers on some of the Avon Valley sites reduced had dropped as low as 0.4 fledged chicks per pair. predation pressure further and further increased In 2019, after just five years, the figure was 0.96. breeding success in these areas. The best approach
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12 | GAME & WILDLIFE REVIEW 2020
Lizzie Grayshon, Waders for Real Ecologist (Top) Large flocks of lapwing used to be a familiar sight across the country, but the population has fallen by 80% since 1960 in England and Wales. They remain in decline and on the UK’s red list of endangered species.
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