High-tide roost sites are critical for shorebird welfare, concentrating large numbers of birds in small areas that are vulnerable to disturbance and habitat loss.
Shorebird roost welfare during high tide is a concentrated welfare concern - large numbers of birds in confined areas are highly vulnerable to disturbance events that force energetically costly flight. Birds that are repeatedly disturbed from roost sites during critical winter months may be unable to maintain the energy balance necessary for survival. The welfare harm is diffuse and invisible to most observers, as disturbed birds simply fly elsewhere, but the energetic consequences accumulate. Roost site protection - through wardening, dog control, and designation - provides welfare benefits to large numbers of birds at modest cost.