RSPB Exminster and Powderham Marshes are managed for the benefit of breeding waders in the summer and large numbers of waders and wildfowl in the winter. Although during the winter months the reserves come alive with birds, the numbers of breeding waders are a cause for concern as they continue to dwindle. Redshanks have failed to breed for the last two years and lapwings have decreased form 26 pairs in 2006 to 12 pairs this year. We are however still in search of the reason, as this is not only significant from a reserve point of view but also for the county as it is the largest remaining colony in Devon.
After undertaking extensive habitat and water level management work on the reserves and improving the grassland structure we are now looking to other reasons as to why are waders are in decline. We don’t know whether it can all be attributed to climate change at is known that these birds are generally heading north east, or whether predation is a major factor. We do know that we have got a resident fox but it seems unfair to lay blame on him before having been proven guilty.
Lapwings generally nest in groups, for safety in numbers, and use open areas so that they can see predators approaching. Currently they favour the bare cultivated areas of Powderham Marshes, which is initially an easy place to visually monitor the progress of nests, but after the flush of spring growth there are plenty of places to hide. However this year with the help of technology we have gained a further insight into understanding the dynamics of the population. Miniature cameras triggered by movement have enabled us to keep a watchful eye on the breeding pairs. This has not only given us great shots of sitting lapwings and young chicks, it has also confirmed our suspicions.
Now at the end of the season the cameras have been very successful in filling in the pieces of the jigsaw as to the fate of our lapwing population. From 12 pairs, 6 nests hatched 3 have been seen to be nobbled by fox and the remaining 3 have been also taken – but escaped being caught on camera. Some pairs are still trying to relay on the grassland of Exminster which is great news and we wait to see if the eggs successfully hatch. We have been avidly watching the trials and tribulations of the chicks and can now report 4 chicks have fledged and there are still 2 very small youngsters under the close watch of their parents. Although this may sound like doom and gloom the positives are that we now have more of an understanding about why our breeding waders are suffering a decline and we can also plan for the future, before the population reaches a level of no return.
Many other grassland reserves keep foxes out to enable the waders to rear their young, so it is excellent that we can now plan do the same here in Devon and hopefully watch the trend of breeding birds start to move the other way!!