Dunlin is the UK's most abundant wintering wader — flocks of tens of thousands perform spectacular aerial murmurations over estuaries at high tide. Their welfare depends on mudflat invertebrate communities threatened by climate change.
Dunlin welfare at estuary roosting and feeding sites is affected by disturbance, habitat loss and changing invertebrate availability. Disturbance of high-tide roosts flushes thousands of birds simultaneously — birds that fly repeatedly during a tide are burning energy they need for survival. Development at key estuaries reduces available mudflat feeding area, increasing competition and reducing individual food intake. Climate change is altering the timing of Corophium invertebrate availability relative to dunlin arrival — a phenological mismatch similar to that seen in migratory songbirds. Estuary site protection through Ramsar designation and SSSI notification directly protects the habitat on which dunlin welfare depends.