It’s that time of year again, when Lapwings careen through the sky, Black Grouse display their white tail feathers as they compete for the attention of a potential mate, and the Curlew’s song tells us that springtime is here. It’s a period of hope and new beginnings, when birds make their nests and prepare to hatch new life. This is a crucial time for all species, but especially those such as Curlew, which are on the UK Conservation Status Report Red List due to their decline. As a result, we at RSPB Geltsdale are asking for your help to protect ground nesting birds and keep them from being disturbed or harmed.
You can make a huge difference to birds’ chances of success during the nesting season (which runs from April to July), simply by keeping to footpaths and walking dogs on short leads on the reserve and in the surrounding countryside. A vast number of birds at RSPB Geltsdale nest on the ground - species such as Curlew, Black Grouse, Lapwing and Golden Plover, which lay their eggs in long grasses. They are often very quiet when sitting on their eggs, as they hide from predators, so you may not realise how close you are to them when out walking. Keep a close eye out and stick to marked footpaths, reducing your likelihood of trampling or disturbing a nest. Once chicks have hatched, some birds will use distraction displays, circling and alarm calling to draw you away from a nest if you get too close, so if you see any unusual bird behaviours, the best thing to do is back away and retrace your steps. A quarter of the global Curlew population is in the UK, but Curlews have declined by 48 per cent in the UK since the mid-1990s and populations remain unstable, according to the Curlew Life project. This means that protecting their survival and reproduction here is vital. To maintain their numbers, each Curlew pair must fledge at least one chick every two years, so every chick really does count.
An over-enthusiastic or inquisitive dog, bounding through the grassland, can easily disturb ground nesting birds, causing the adult birds to leave the nest. Vulnerable, very young chicks will perish if left alone for too long. Dogs may also trample eggs or nests, and we had a tragic incident on the reserve in 2022 where a radio tagged chick was found dead, just days from fledging, with bite injuries shows by a forensic examination and DNA analysis to have been caused by a dog.
To support nesting birds, while still enjoying the beauty of the reserve and surrounding countryside in spring and summer, just keep your pets on a short leash and closely supervised. The law says that you must keep your dog on a lead no longer than two metres between March 1st and July 31st when on any open access land, in order to protect ground-nesting birds (https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/use-your-right-to-roam). The Countryside Code also states that dogs must be controlled to avoid disturbing farm animals or wildlife. It is important to remember, however, that if you are ever chased by cattle, the safest thing to do is to release your dog. You can help further by clearing up after your dog and disposing of dog waste in bins or at home, limiting the spread of disease and its effect on fragile habitats, and by avoiding nature reserves if walking large groups of dogs.
This legislation and guidance doesn’t just apply here at RSPB Geltsdale. There are plenty of bird species across a range of habitats, from woodland to coast, which nest on or close to the ground and need caution and close attention from walkers and dog owners.
Examples include:
Thank you for helping us to protect these species and support their breeding, so that we can all enjoy seeing and hearing them for years to come.