Wildlife Welfare

Wild Lapwing Chick Survival Welfare

Lapwing chicks are highly vulnerable during their flightless period. Agricultural management significantly affects chick survival and population welfare.

Key Facts

Lapwing chicks are precocial but cannot fly for 5-6 weeks after hatching
Agricultural operations during the chick-rearing period cause high mortality
Predator management in designated areas improves chick survival rates
Beetle banks and rough grass areas provide essential chick foraging habitat
UK lapwing populations have declined by over 50% since the 1980s

Welfare Considerations

Lapwing chicks killed by farm machinery or predators in areas without management suffer direct welfare harm, while chicks in food-poor habitats face slow starvation. Conservation management that protects the flightless period - through delayed operations and predator management - directly improves individual chick welfare and enables population recovery.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB wader conservation programs for lapwing
Advocate for lapwing-friendly farming in agri-environment schemes
Report lapwing nesting to local conservation groups for protection
Learn about the farming practices that support lapwing chick survival