Wading birds including curlew, lapwing, and redshank depend on wet grassland and wetland habitats that have declined dramatically. Their welfare is directly linked to habitat availability and quality.
Wading bird welfare is profoundly shaped by habitat availability. Birds that cannot find suitable nesting habitat attempt breeding in suboptimal sites — drier fields with fewer invertebrates, more disturbance, and higher predation risk. Chick starvation from insufficient invertebrate food is a major cause of breeding failure, with welfare implications that extend from the breeding season into the survival of young birds. Adult curlews displaced from optimal territories by habitat loss face increased competition and reduced foraging efficiency. Climate change is drying some traditionally wet grassland habitats further, adding pressure to already stressed populations. Whole-landscape approaches that restore connected networks of wet grassland, reduce drainage intensity, and support farmer participation in agri-environment schemes offer the most promising pathway to wader welfare recovery.