Avocet Welfare: Coastal Lagoon Management in the UK 2026

The avocet, symbol of the RSPB, has recovered dramatically in the UK through habitat creation, but welfare depends on careful lagoon management.

Key Facts

Avocets were extinct as a UK breeding species from the 1840s until 1947 when they recolonised East Anglia
The UK breeding population has grown to over 2,000 pairs, concentrated in coastal lagoons and reserves
Avocets need shallow, brackish or saline lagoons with exposed mudflats for feeding and nesting on bare islands
Mammalian predators such as foxes and mink are major threats to nesting success on mainland sites
Prolonged spells of cold weather in spring can cause nest abandonment and chick mortality

Welfare Considerations

Avocet welfare depends on the active management of coastal lagoon habitats. Water level control is critical - levels that are too high flood nesting islands, while levels that are too low allow predators to walk to nest sites. Management for avocets requires year-round monitoring and intervention, including predator control, water management, and vegetation cutting on nesting islands. Climate-related changes in spring weather patterns and sea level rise threaten habitat suitability for breeding avocets across the UK coastline.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and Wildlife Trust reserves managing avocet breeding habitats
Visit avocet reserves to appreciate and support their conservation management
Advocate for coastal habitat protection against development and sea level rise
Report avocet disturbance or predation events to reserve managers