UK Lapwing: Breeding Season Management and Chick Survival

Lapwing have declined by over 50% in lowland England since 1987. The species needs a combination of wet grassland management and reduced predation pressure to recover.

Key Facts

UK lapwing population is at around 140,000 breeding pairs, down from 300,000+ in the 1980s
Chicks are precocial and mobile within hours of hatching but cannot fly for 35 days
Wet grassland with shallow scrapes and rush beds is preferred breeding habitat
Agricultural intensification has drained most traditional lapwing habitat
Nest losses from machinery and predation are the primary causes of reproductive failure
Lapwing is currently red-listed on the Birds of Conservation Concern list

Welfare Considerations

Lapwing chicks are highly vulnerable during the 5-week pre-fledging period. They require access to soft wet ground where they can probe for invertebrates, and adult birds provide warmth during cold rain. Agricultural operations including silage cutting, harrowing, and rolling during the breeding season cause direct mortality of chicks and eggs, representing preventable welfare harm. Timing agricultural operations outside breeding seasons and creating wet grassland refuges are the most direct welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Support wet grassland restoration through agri-environment scheme funding
Contribute lapwing nesting records through the BTO Nest Record Scheme
Avoid agricultural operations on wet grassland between March and June where possible
Advocate for lapwing-sensitive management in agri-environment scheme prescriptions
Report lapwing breeding sites to local wildlife trusts for monitoring