Ground-nesting shorebirds including plovers and terns face welfare threats from human recreational disturbance on beaches, with nest abandonment and chick predation causing significant population welfare impacts.
Disturbance to nesting shorebirds causes acute welfare impacts through nest abandonment, egg chilling or overheating, and chick predation. Repeated disturbance of a pair causes breeding failure and the loss of a season's reproductive effort. Chicks caught in the open away from parental shelter during disturbance face thermal stress and predation. The cumulative welfare impact of recreational beach use on shorebird populations represents a significant conservation and welfare concern. Simple management interventions including beach closures around nest sites, dog control, and public education dramatically reduce disturbance impacts and improve breeding success.