Dunlin are among the UK's most numerous wintering waders, yet face significant welfare pressures from habitat loss, disturbance, and the demands of long migrations.
Dunlin welfare in winter centres on maintaining adequate fat reserves on tidal mudflats. Research using radio-tagged birds shows that repeatedly disturbed dunlin carry significantly lower fat scores than undisturbed birds, with clear survival consequences. The loss of mudflat habitat to sea-level rise and coastal development represents a growing welfare threat - birds forced onto suboptimal feeding areas have poorer body condition and lower survival rates.