Wildlife

Lapwing Chick Predation and Wader Conservation

Lapwing chicks are ground-dwelling and highly vulnerable in their first weeks, requiring landscape and predator management for welfare and recovery.

Key Facts

Lapwing populations have declined by 58% in the UK since 1970
Chicks are nidifugous (mobile from hatching) but cannot fly for over a month
Predation by foxes, crows, and stoats is a primary cause of chick mortality
Wet grassland with tussock structure reduces predation risk for chicks

Welfare Considerations

Prolonged inability to fly makes lapwing chicks especially vulnerable to predation over many weeks. Repeated nest failure leads to repeated breeding attempts, causing chronic parental stress. Habitat management is the most welfare-positive intervention.

What You Can Do

Support wet grassland creation schemes that benefit lapwing and other waders
Advocate for agri-environment payments that fund predator management
Visit nature reserves that manage habitat specifically for wading birds