Lapwing Conservation: Restoring Farmland Breeding Habitat

The lapwing is one of the UK most rapidly declining farmland birds, with its distinctive tumbling display flight now absent from many former breeding areas.

Key Facts

Lapwing numbers have fallen by 56% since 1970 in the UK
They nest in open ground and require short, sparse vegetation for both nesting and chick foraging
Agricultural intensification including early silage cutting and spring drilling destroys nests and chicks
Lapwings show strong site fidelity and will repeatedly attempt to nest in areas with ongoing disturbance
Agri-environment scheme payments fund habitat creation that has stabilised some local populations

Welfare Considerations

Individual lapwings suffer welfare impacts from nest destruction, chick mortality from agricultural operations, and loss of food resources through pesticide-driven invertebrate decline. Lapwing chicks are precocial but require invertebrate-rich habitats during their first weeks of life, and malnourished chicks die slowly from starvation. Adults with failed nests attempt re-nesting multiple times, expending energy and facing increasing risk with each attempt. Conservation measures including scrapes, sympathetic grazing management, and predator control can restore breeding productivity and reduce individual welfare costs.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes that fund lapwing habitat creation
Advocate for spring farming operation timing requirements that protect nesting birds
Learn to identify lapwings and report breeding activity to local wildlife trusts
Visit nature reserves where lapwing breeding success is being actively managed
Support organisations working on farmland bird recovery across the UK