Media release 5 June 2003

New survey charts WADING bird losses from countryside

Wading birds, such as the lapwing, redshank and snipe, are among our most loved countryside birds, but a new survey, published today, has revealed continuing declines among these wetland birds in the lowlands of England and Wales.

Six key sites [note 2], three of which are in East Anglia, now hold more than half of the combined population of snipe, lapwing and redshank in lowland England and Wales. These are the Broads in Norfolk and Suffolk, the Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk and the Nene Washes in Cambridgeshire. Historically, these species used to nest commonly on flood meadows through much of eastern England's river valleys.

The Breeding Waders of Wet Meadows survey, conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology and funded by the RSPB, Defra and English Nature, has revealed continuing population declines and confirms that the birds are faring best in nature reserves. Nationally, since 1982, 60 per cent of snipe, 40 per cent of lapwings and 20 per cent of redshanks have disappeared.

The trends in eastern England were mixed. Snipe, like the national figures, have gone down by 57 per cent. The Ouse Washes remain a stronghold for snipe, though all waders there face problems of spring & summer flooding, an issue that various agencies are trying to tackle. Lapwings on wet meadows declined by 28 per cent, less than the national figure, and redshanks showed little change, down just three per cent, though both species are increasingly concentrated on nature reserves. Oystercatchers, traditionally a coastal species, have increased inland in the last 20 years and showed an increase of 77 per cent.

In the Broads about half the breeding waders, mostly redshanks and lapwings, are now on the RSPB's nature reserves in the Yare Valley at Buckenham, Cantley and Berney Marshes. With the support of Defra's Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) scheme, the RSPB has developed its land management to reverse declines of waders.

Farmers and land owners can also play a vital role in helping these birds regain their former numbers away from nature reserves. For example, again in the Broads, a partnership between Beckhithe Farms, the RSPB and English Nature, supported by the ESA, has boosted numbers of wading birds.

The first survey in 1982 was organised because of concerns about the loss and degradation of wet grasslands. However, the situation has only improved where targeted management has been put in place, and this needs to be expanded, says the RSPB. There is an opportunity to help wading birds in wet meadows through the present review of ESAs with their future inclusion, with Countryside Stewardship, in a 'Higher Tier Scheme' for wildlife-friendly farming.

Phil Rothwell, the RSPB's head of Countryside Policy, said: "Seeing lapwing, snipe and redshank in the spring should be a familiar part of the countryside and not confined to nature reserves. To halt further declines we need urgent action through a range of government-backed measures, such as more funding for wildlife-friendly farming and measures to restore wetland areas to our thirsty countryside."

Survey organiser, Andy Wilson of the Thetford-based British Trust for Ornithology, said: "Half of the sites visited during the survey contained no breeding waders at all, a pattern that built up as volunteer surveyors submitted their figures. The contrast with those sites that are carefully managed was stark. In parts of England and Wales, snipe are now approaching local extinction - in the West Midlands, for example, only four snipe were recorded from a total of 106 sites."

Dr Andy Brown, Chief Executive of Peterborough-based English Nature, said: "There is clearly a need for conservationists and government to work together with farmers if the numbers of waders breeding on our wet meadows are to recover. Government's commitment to significantly increase the funding over the next five years of agri-environment schemes, which encourages sympathetic management of farmland for wildlife, is a step in the right direction. However, we must ensure that these resources are properly targeted so that they deliver real nature conservation benefits."

ends

For further information and to arrange an interview, please contact:
Chris Durdin, RSPB Eastern England office: 01603 660066
Grahame Madge, RSPB press officer, on 01767 681577.
Out of hours, please page 07654 344078 or call 07702 196902 (mobile) or
01234 870627 (home)
Stuart Burgess, English Nature press officer, on: 01733 455190
Andy Wilson, BTO survey organiser on: 01786 466560 or
Graham Appleton, BTO press officer, on: 01842 750050
Denise Hart, Defra press officer, on: 0207 238 6044

Photographs:
The following photographs are available free of charge from RSPB Images in digital or traditional format. To place an order please contact Wendy Hollis at RSPB Images on 01268 711471, quoting the reference numbers of the image required.