The avocet, the RSPB's logo bird, returned to breed in England in 1947 after 100 years of absence. Its welfare success story depends on careful lagoon management in East Anglian nature reserves.
Avocet welfare depends on precise water level management in coastal reserves. Too deep and the invertebrate-rich shallow margins disappear; too shallow and ground predators walk to nest islands. Climate change is increasing storm frequency and saltwater intrusion into freshwater lagoons — altering the invertebrate communities avocets depend on. The RSPB Minsmere and Titchwell reserves demonstrate how active water management produces consistent avocet breeding success and measurable improvements in chick survival rates.