Breeding shorebirds including lapwing, curlew, and ringed plover face severe welfare threats from human recreational disturbance during the critical spring and summer nesting season.
Breeding shorebirds face welfare threats during the most vulnerable period of their annual cycle. Adult birds flushed repeatedly from nests by walkers and dogs cannot adequately incubate eggs, leading to chilling and failure. Chicks that become separated from adults in cold or wet conditions experience hypothermia and may die. The timing of maximum human recreational pressure - warm sunny weekends in May and June - coincides exactly with peak vulnerability of ground-nesting birds. Seasonal restrictions on dog access to key nesting areas, combined with public education, provide direct welfare benefit at relatively low cost.