Knot congregate in enormous winter flocks at major UK estuaries, feeding on cockles and other molluscs. Their welfare depends on undisturbed estuarine habitat with abundant prey.
Knot welfare at UK estuaries depends on abundant intertidal mollusc prey and freedom from disturbance during feeding. Industrial cockle harvesting at some sites has reduced prey availability with knock-on welfare effects for the enormous wintering flocks that depend on these resources. Coastal development threatening intertidal mudflats removes feeding habitat permanently. Climate change affecting cockle growth rates and survival is beginning to influence the prey base. Maintaining disturbance-free core feeding and roosting areas at key estuaries is the most direct welfare intervention.