Lapwing Spring Welfare: Nesting, Predation and Agriculture

Spring is the most critical and welfare-intensive period for lapwings, with nesting success determining population trends.

Key Facts

Lapwings begin displaying and nest-searching from February onwards in Britain
Ground nests are vulnerable to predation from foxes, crows and badgers
Agricultural operations in spring including rolling and harrowing destroy a significant proportion of nests
Nest failures cause repeated nesting attempts increasing energy expenditure and stress
Successful nesting with chicks surviving to fledging provides the positive welfare foundation of a breeding season

Welfare Considerations

Lapwing spring welfare is determined by the success or failure of breeding attempts, which is influenced by both predation pressure and agricultural timing. Individual lapwings that experience repeated nest failures spend the breeding season in chronic reproductive stress with the physiological costs of repeated breeding attempts and no offspring to show for it. Agricultural operations timed to miss lapwing nesting periods, combined with reduced predation pressure through habitat management, allow individuals to breed successfully. Each successful breeding season provides the positive welfare experience of successful parenthood that these animals evolved to experience.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment payments for farmers delaying spring operations until after lapwing chick mobility
Advocate for lapwing nest protection through spring buffer zones in farming regulations
Participate in lapwing nest monitoring programmes contributing population data
Encourage farmers to identify and protect lapwing nests before spring rolling and harrowing