Shorebirds gather in large roosting flocks at high tide when feeding areas are covered, and disturbance during roosting causes energy expenditure that can have significant welfare consequences during migration.
Shorebird roosting welfare illustrates how human recreational activities can cause significant welfare harm that appears minor from the human perspective. A dog running through a roosting flock or a photographer approaching too closely causes the entire flock to take flight in alarm. Each such disturbance burns significant fat reserves that migrating birds cannot easily replace. During critical migration periods when birds must build reserves for intercontinental journeys, repeated disturbance can compromise their ability to complete migrations safely. The cumulative effect of multiple disturbances across a tidal cycle can cause real welfare harm. Wardening schemes that manage human access near high-value roost sites demonstrate that awareness and guidance can dramatically reduce disturbance.