Give birds space! RSPB calls on visitors to help protect the North East’s ground nesting birds
AS visitors begin to enjoy the North East’s coast and countryside more this Spring and Summer, the RSPB is appealing to the public to help protect vulnerable birds during their breeding season.
Over half of England’s most vulnerable breeding birds nest on or near the ground and are at risk of disturbance from unsuspecting people and dogs, while nest disturbance can make the parent bird abandon the nest, causing eggs to cool, and unprotected chicks to die.
That’s why experts are appealing for the public’s help to protect them between March and September.
A new conservation campaign, ‘Give Birds Space’, is inviting visitors and the public to help give vulnerable species their very best chance of raising their chicks.
If Little Terns nesting on sand and shingle at Seaton Carew, for example, are disturbed, they may abandon their nest, eggs and chicks.
And, whether it’s Skylarks or Lapwing across the Northeast’s farmland, Ringed Plovers and Oystercatchers on Northumberland’s beaches, or Curlews in the Northumberland National Park and across the North East’s moorland, if these birds are disturbed, they may completely abandon their nest and chicks.
The RSPB’s three top tips for helping the North East’s ground-nesting birds, whether in the countryside or along the coast, are:
- Keep to marked paths and keep away from any roped-off areas.
- Keep dogs under close control between March and August, whilst parent birds are sitting on eggs, and flightless chicks are on the ground.
- Give birds and their nests plenty of space.
To help birds feel safe and avoid stress, the RSPB also advises giving nesting birds a wide berth – keeping at least 100m away from roped-off areas and from any chicks that may be running around. Adult birds repeatedly flying unusually close to you and calling loudly generally means they have chicks nearby.
The popularity of wild swimming and paddleboarding is also a risk factor for the North East’s ground-nesting birds, but paddlers and wild swimmers can help too.
Dr Conor Pharaoh-John, RSPB and National Trust recreational disturbance programme manager, explained: “Being on the water offers a fantastic chance to experience wildlife from a different perspective.
“But by keeping a steady, predictable course, and limiting viewing to just a few minutes, swimmers and paddlers can help ensure birds and wildlife aren’t disturbed or disrupted from feeding, breeding or caring for their young.”
Over half of England’s most threatened breeding birds nest on or near to the ground, including Curlew, Little Tern, Nightjar and Lapwing. Many of these species are on the red list of conservation concern, as their population numbers are already struggling due to factors such as changes to roosting and breeding sites, lack of food and the impacts of climate change.
These species nest across a range of different landscapes such as scrub, grassland, woodland, moorland, heathland, and beaches. Even some of our more common birds, seen in both our gardens and the wider countryside, also build their nests low down. Birds such as Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks and Blackbirds all favour building their nests low in hedges, Ivy, and other shrubs.
Pharaoh-John added: “Exploring the countryside with our dogs is a great way to enjoy our green spaces. However, whilst we mean no harm to wildlife, people and dogs appear as potential predators to a bird, especially those nesting on the ground.”
Adult birds, the RSPB warns, will leave their nest if feeling threatened, until the perceived danger has gone. Even in this brief time of parents being away from the nest, eggs can quickly cool down, and chicks will be unprotected.
This temporary abandonment, especially if it occurs repeatedly amid increased visitors to the countryside throughout the spring and summer, could prevent eggs from hatching due to low temperatures. And small chicks can die because of cold, starvation, or an actual animal predator seizing the opportunity to take them.
As birds nesting on the ground are at higher risk from predators the nests and eggs they contain are often well camouflaged, making them difficult to see and avoid. By following the RSPB’s three tips, the conservation charity says we can all play our part in keeping the Northeast’s ground nesting birds safe this year so that they can successfully raise and fledge the next generation of offspring.
Mike Shurmer, head of species for RSPB England, said: “Skylark eggs, hidden in places like Northumberland’s national park, can be as small as a 5p coin. When they hatch, the chicks stay perfectly camouflaged and motionless in the nest — so well hidden that people can pass by without realising they’re there, risking accidentally disturbing them.
“Other ground-nesting birds, like Curlew, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover, have chicks that leave the nest within days of hatching, still tiny and vulnerable, moving through grassland and beaches where people and dogs are present.
“This means that it’s all too easy to disturb them, or accidentally destroy nests and chicks, without even realising — a simple step off a path or a dog running free can have devastating consequences.”
Due to their effective camouflage, it can be difficult and sometimes almost impossible to see a parent bird and its nest. There are often no obvious signs that birds are nesting nearby or that an adult bird has moved away from their eggs or chicks. There are a few behaviours to watch out for that help give a clue:
- Parent birds in distress – alarm calling and potentially swooping low-down/dive-bombing or flying quickly back and forth across your path.
- Birds with nesting material or food in their beaks – they may dive into a particular patch of scrub, grass or a shrub and not come out, again suggesting they may be visiting their nest.
- Deception – birds such as Lapwings and Ringed Plovers may pretend to limp or appear to have a broken wing, dragging it on the ground if they sense danger nearby. This is an attempt to distract the perceived threat off the scent by distracting them away from their eggs and chicks.
At RSPB Saltholme nature reserve, on Teesside, the charity is working hard to protect threatened ground-nesting birds such as Lapwing, Avocet and Redshank. Carefully managed wetlands, including fenced nesting areas and specially created scrapes, provide these vulnerable birds with the space they need to breed safely. By reducing disturbance and creating safe havens, staff and volunteers are helping ensure more chicks survive.
Mike added: “We can all play our part in keeping the North East’s ground nesting birds safe this year so that they can successfully raise and fledge the next generation of offspring. Every chick really does count, and we’re grateful to everyone who helps give our ground-nesting birds the space they need during the breeding season”.
For more information on how you can help ground-nesting birds, visit:
