Wildlife

Wild Lapwing Nest Protection on Farmland

Lapwing nests are vulnerable to agricultural machinery during spring planting and cutting operations, but nest marking and GPS coordination can prevent widespread destruction.

Key Facts

Lapwings nest in open grassland and arable fields from March to June
Nest loss from agricultural machinery accounts for a substantial proportion of lapwing breeding failure
Farmers can mark nests with canes to enable machinery avoidance at low cost
GPS nest mapping enables precise machinery guidance around nesting areas
RSPB advisory services support farmers in identifying and protecting lapwing nesting areas

Welfare Considerations

Lapwing nest destruction by machinery is largely preventable with simple marking and coordination. Supporting farmers who invest time in nest protection delivers direct welfare and conservation benefit.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB farmland bird advisory programmes that protect lapwing nests
Advocate for training and incentives for farmers to mark and protect wader nests
Donate to organisations funding farmland bird nest protection advisory services