Shelducks are characteristic birds of UK estuaries and coastal wetlands. Their welfare depends on intertidal food availability, safe moulting sites and appropriate nest habitat.
Shelduck welfare at moult sites is particularly vulnerable because during this period the birds are completely flightless and must escape predators on foot. A disturbance event at a moult site - from boats, dogs, or human approaches - causes mass flight attempts by birds that cannot actually fly, leading to panic, collision injuries, and extreme energy expenditure. The moult site tradition is deeply embedded in shelduck behaviour - the same sites are used year after year and are irreplaceable. Protecting these sites during July-September from disturbance directly protects individual birds at their most vulnerable life stage.