Wildlife

Wild Dunlin Arctic Breeding and Welfare Monitoring

Dunlin breed in small numbers on Scottish blanket bog and are major winter visitors. Understanding their Arctic welfare and wintering site requirements informs conservation planning.

Key Facts

UK breeding dunlin are confined to upland blanket bog in northern Scotland
Winter flocks of up to 100,000 gather on estuaries and coastal mudflats
Their bills are curved at the tip - adapted for probing different invertebrates than other waders
Climate warming threatens blanket bog breeding habitat through desiccation

Welfare Considerations

Dunlin welfare at wintering estuaries depends on access to invertebrate-rich intertidal mudflat. Disturbance by recreational activity forces birds to fly repeatedly, depleting energy reserves in winter. Site protection is critical.

What You Can Do

Support coastal wetland protection through RSPB and Wildlife Trust campaigns
Submit dunlin counts to WeBS to support population monitoring
Respect estuary access restrictions around major wader roosting sites