Wildlife

Wild Knot Wading Bird Estuary Conservation

Red knots are long-distance migrants that winter in UK estuaries feeding on invertebrates. Their welfare depends on invertebrate prey availability.

Key Facts

UK wintering knots number in the hundreds of thousands, mainly in key estuaries
They feed primarily on cockles and other bivalves in intertidal areas
Body condition entering migration must be sufficient for long flights to breeding grounds
Commercial shellfish harvesting affects knot food availability at key sites
Climate change is affecting bivalve distributions in wintering estuaries

Welfare Considerations

Knots that cannot build sufficient body condition at wintering estuaries cannot complete spring migration or breed successfully. Competition with shellfish harvesting for food resources is a welfare concern. Protecting key estuaries from excessive shellfish exploitation and disturbance ensures knots can meet their energetic needs before spring migration.

What You Can Do

Support Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and RSPB estuary conservation
Record knot flocks through WeBS wetland bird surveys
Advocate for shellfish harvesting limits that protect wading bird food resources