Watch your step this spring

Imagine this. It’s a warm and sunny spring day and you decide to make the most of this splendid weather by taking a countryside walk. Whilst strolling along a footpath you hear the twittering of excited baby birds being fed in a nearby nest. There’s nothing quite like hearing that sound to know that spring is in full swing! But did you know that over half of our most threatened breeding bird species choose to nest on or near the ground?

More people than ever are enjoying the benefits that spending time in the countryside offers for our health and wellbeing. Yet for ground nesting birds this can cause extra pressure during breeding season, when the places they nest become busy with visitors who often don't realise birds may nest on the ground. 

Our threatened species are already under increasing pressure due to things like habitat loss, predators and climate change, but there’s one simple step you can take to help keep them safe too, just by watching where you walk!  

Almost every natural place in the English countryside can be home to ground nesting birds. From shingle shores to heather filled heathlands, woodland edges to farmland fields. Nesting on or near the ground at these sites can create huge challenges for birds when raising a young brood.

Birds such as the Skylark, Ringed Plover, Little Tern, Nightjar and Lapwing are found at different spots across the country, but these ground nesting species are under increasing pressure.

Little Plover sitting on ground nest (c) Andy Hay/RSPB Images

Birds that choose to nest this way often have nests, eggs and markings that are extremely well camouflaged - which is nature’s way of trying to protect them. The Skylark nests on open land, often farmland, and their eggs can be as small as 17mm; that’s around the width of a 5p piece. When those eggs hatch, if a chick feels scared its natural instinct is often to stay quiet and avoid detection which means that if we aren’t being careful about where we walk, we may not see them.

The good news is that it’s very simple to give these birds the space they need during the breeding season to help give them the best chance of survival. Here’s a few tips about what you can do to help:

• Stick to public footpaths in the countryside as ground nesting birds will choose to nest away from busy pathways.
• If you see or hear an adult bird calling out in distress or trying to catch your attention when out walking, back away to help protect nests from being disturbed. Move as quietly and quickly as possible as birds calling out in distress can also attract predators.
• Keep dogs close to you on lead when walking through countryside and along beaches during breeding season (March to August) as dogs running through nesting sites can cause disturbance leading to adult birds deserting their nests temporarily or permanently, leaving fledglings to get cold or die.
• Be vigilant and observant walking along beaches as some bird's nest near the tides edge.
• Discarded cigarettes or barbecues can cause wildfires on land suitable for ground nesting birds, so always dispose of these safely and protect the environment.

At the RSPB we work closely with landowners, partners and communities to protect ground nesting birds and wildlife across our nature reserves and in the wider countryside. To find out more about RSPB reserves near you, or to help fund the vital work we do to raise awareness and protect wildlife, visit www.rspb.org.uk    

Main picture - Skylark (c) Ben Andrew/RSPB Images