Golden Plover Welfare on UK Moorland: Upland Conservation Priorities

Golden plovers depend on blanket bog and upland moorland for breeding, with welfare linked to moorland condition and invertebrate prey availability.

Key Facts

Golden plover breed on upland heather and blanket bog in northern and western Britain
UK population is of international significance numbering over 30000 pairs
Moorland drainage and conversion to conifer forestry caused major historic declines
They winter at low elevation fields in large flocks with lapwings and starlings
Climate change is affecting the timing of invertebrate emergence at upland breeding sites

Welfare Considerations

Breeding golden plovers depend on surface-active invertebrates, particularly crane flies (daddy longlegs), for chick feeding. Drained and degraded moorland has reduced crane fly abundance, leading to chick starvation in years of poor invertebrate emergence. Climate change is causing mismatches between peak chick demand and invertebrate availability. Welfare of individual birds is linked to moorland condition: restored blanket bog with rewetted peat supports higher invertebrate densities and better chick survival rates.

What You Can Do

Support blanket bog restoration and rewetting programmes
Back RSPB and Moorland Association work on upland bird monitoring
Advocate for upland agri-environment scheme payments for moorland maintenance
Join the BTO BBS survey to track golden plover population trends
Oppose drainage of blanket bog and upland peat in planning decisions