Wildlife Welfare

Wild Knot and Dunlin Estuary Welfare

Knot and dunlin are internationally important wading birds whose UK estuary wintering grounds are critical welfare sites.

Key Facts

The UK hosts internationally significant numbers of knot and dunlin during winter
Estuaries provide intertidal invertebrate prey accessible during low tide foraging windows
Disturbance during high tide roost causes energy expenditure that increases winter mortality
Climate change is shifting invertebrate distribution, potentially affecting food availability
Estuarine habitats are threatened by development, sea level rise, and erosion

Welfare Considerations

Estuary welfare for wading birds depends on the protection of intertidal feeding grounds and undisturbed high-tide roosts. Individual birds disturbed from roosts lose valuable energy reserves that matter for winter survival.

What You Can Do

Respect estuarine wildlife refuges and stay away from high-tide roost sites
Support estuarine conservation through wildlife trust membership
Advocate for estuary protection in coastal development planning