Wildlife

Dunlin Welfare on Mudflats

The dunlin is the most abundant wintering wader on UK estuaries, facing welfare threats from estuary reclamation, disturbance, and climate change.

Key Facts

UK winter population over 500,000 individuals
Forms huge dense flocks on estuaries in winter
Rapid-probing bill adapted for soft mud invertebrates
Several distinct subspecies winter in the UK
Critical dependency on intertidal mudflat habitat

Welfare Considerations

Loss of intertidal mudflat through coastal development removes key foraging habitat. Disturbance events that scatter flocks repeatedly cause energy depletion. Climate change altering invertebrate prey timing may affect breeding success in Arctic.

What You Can Do

Support estuary SSSI designation and protection
Donate to Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT)
Avoid disturbing roosting wader flocks
Campaign against coastal infrastructure damaging estuaries