Lapwings are wading birds that can be found in grasslands, farmland and wetlands. They are well known for their distinctive calls, giving them the alternative name 'peewit', their complex courtship displays and their striking plumage, in particular their head crests. Sadly, lapwing populations in the UK have declined significantly over the past few decades, predominantly due to changes in agricultural practices and the loss of suitable nesting habitats, meaning that they are now a red-listed species in the UK and are deemed a conservation priority. Here at Fen Drayton Lakes, we have seen a steady decrease in breeding numbers so are working to provide suitable habitats and to implement effective habitat management measures with the aim of helping the species recover.
Lapwings are ground-nesting birds that lay their eggs in shallow scrapes, often in grassy fields. The chicks are born precocial, meaning they leave the nest after hatching and feed themselves with the help of their parents who care for them until they fledge. Nesting lapwings require suitable grass sward and vegetation conditions in order to build their nests and rear their young. The ideal habitat is an area of short, grazed grass with some scattered tussocky vegetation and bare patches with nearby shallow water margins. This type of habitat provides cover for the birds, feeding areas for adults and chicks, and reduces the risk of predation.
The grasslands of Ferry Mere along the northern edge of the lake is the best area for nesting lapwings at the reserve and we carry out management work in order to maintain it as a suitable habitat. The area is grazed by cattle in the summer and autumn to ensure suitable grass conditions the following spring when lapwing are looking to nest with a majority low, even height. This enables the birds to see around them and watch out for predators, thus making them feel more secure and more likely to nest.
Having nearby tall trees and shrubs can deter lapwing from nesting as they provide cover for ground predators, such as foxes, and perching points for avian predators, such as crows, that can take eggs and chicks. In previous years we have worked to fell trees from around the ditches on Ferry Mere and this past winter we have spent time with our volunteer work group removing a dense area of tall trees from the lake edge very near to our shallow pools where lapwing are often seen and have nested in the past. Not only will this improve the area for the birds, but it also has the added benefit of opening up views of the lake from the footpath and view shelter along the north of Ferry Lake.
As we head into spring the large wintering lapwing flocks will start to disperse, but we hope that some will stay and choose to nest out on Ferry Mere or elsewhere at the reserve. We will be carefully monitoring lapwing numbers as part of our annual breeding bird surveying to see the effects of our management work and determine if there is more we can do. In fact, we are already working on plans for another project to try to ensure the continued presence of shallow pools that remain wet throughout the breeding season. Watch this space for more details in the future.