Red Knot Welfare on Arctic Migrations

Red knot undertakes one of the most extreme migrations in the animal kingdom — 15,000km from the Arctic to UK estuaries. Its welfare along this journey depends on a chain of refuelling sites across the globe.

Key Facts

Breeds in high Arctic Canada and Siberia — one of the longest-distance migratory birds
UK winter population approximately 300,000 birds — mainly Morecambe, Wash, Thames, Severn
Doubles body weight before long sea crossings — fuelling for non-stop 4,000km flights
Decreasing Arctic sea ice affects breeding success — fewer birds completing the full journey
Delaware Bay (USA) horseshoe crab eggs are critical refuelling stop on northward migration

Welfare Considerations

Red knot welfare is affected at multiple points along its migration chain. Loss of Delaware Bay horseshoe crab egg availability — due to overharvesting of crabs — has been directly linked to reduced knot survival rates in research tracking individual marked birds. Birds arriving at UK wintering sites in poor condition after inadequate refuelling show higher winter mortality. Mudflat quality at UK wintering sites determines whether birds can regain body condition after migration. The rufa red knot subspecies (North American population) is listed as threatened — its welfare crisis illustrates the global scope of migratory bird conservation challenges.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns protecting Delaware Bay horseshoe crab populations
Donate to WWT estuary conservation protecting UK red knot wintering sites
Advocate for international flyway protection agreements for Arctic migratory species
Record red knot counts at local estuaries through WeBS monitoring
Report large wader disturbance events at known roost sites to local recorders