Wildlife

Wild Lapwing Chick Welfare and Agricultural Risk

Lapwings nest on arable and grassland and their chick welfare is highly vulnerable to agricultural operations during the breeding season.

Key Facts

Lapwing numbers have declined by over 80% in UK farmland since the 1970s
Nests and chicks are vulnerable to rolling, harrowing, and grassland management
Early incubation losses due to cold spells cause nesting failure and re-laying stress
Chick survival depends on short sward with invertebrate-rich feeding areas
Agri-environment schemes paying for lapwing-friendly management have shown measurable recovery

Welfare Considerations

Lapwing chicks killed by agricultural machinery or rolling die from traumatic injury. Chicks that survive lose feeding areas when swards are managed too intensively. Targeted agri-environment management creating nesting and brood-rearing habitat is the primary welfare and conservation tool for lapwings.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes targeting lapwing recovery
Advocate for pre-mowing surveys where lapwings are nesting
Donate to organisations monitoring lapwing population trends