Managing habitats to boost breeding waders

The International Year of Biodiversity 2010 is a celebration of the variety of wildlife, animals and plants with which we share this planet.  Farmers across Northern Ireland have an important role to play in enhancing biodiversity on their land. Many do this by participating in agri-environment schemes, for example by managing land to benefit farmland birds such as breeding waders.

Some of the most vulnerable species of breeding waders are curlew, lapwing, redshank and snipe, the numbers of which have declined in Northern Ireland by up to 60 percent since the 1980’s. Curlew, redshank and lapwing are all priority species under the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy.

The bubbling song and ‘cour lee’ call of the curlew during spring and the eerie drumming of snipe at dawn and dusk are some of the most characteristic sounds of moorland, upland meadows and wet grasslands.  The loss of permanent, unimproved grasslands, drainage of wet meadows and the switch from hay to silage have all had a negative effect on numbers of breeding waders in the last 30-40 years.  Lapwing also nest in arable areas and the decline in mixed farming and change from spring to winter cereals has affected their numbers.  As areas of suitable nesting habitat decline the remaining birds become more vulnerable to predation, leading to a spiralling downturn in numbers.  

Agri-environment scheme farmers with breeding waders on their land can manage their fields to create as ideal conditions as possible for breeding curlew, lapwing and snipe. There are currently 6000 ha of breeding wader habitat being managed by scheme participants.

During the breeding season these birds need damp grassland which can be probed easily to find insects and worms.  They also need open ground for spotting predators but with some tussocks of sedge, grass or rush for nesting and shelter.   Equally important is a nesting area which has little disturbance from either stock or farm machinery. Where lapwing nest in arable areas, agri-environment farmers can provide ‘lapwing fallow plots’ – areas of fallow soil within fields of spring cereals or potatoes where lapwings can nest undisturbed. By providing these conditions at the right time of year, farmers make a valuable contribution to sustaining and enhancing populations of these important birds.  

If you would like more information on biodiversity of if you have nesting waders on your farm contact your Countryside Management Delivery Adviser at your local DARD office.

Snipe require wet meadows in which to feed and breed

Photo courtesy of RSPB