Spring Roundup

April marks the end of the first year of projects supported by the Working for Waders Initiative.  In our Spring newsletter we take a look at what has been achieved so far as plans are developed for 2019/20.

Taking The Initiative Event

Over 40 supporters of Working for Waders representing a wide breadth of experience and interests, took part in the 'Taking the Initiative' event held on 12th March at Airth Castle Hotel; project catch-ups were shared and discussion around the development of actions related to low ground/arable, improved and semi-improved grasslands and moorland/rough grazing land use took place.

Project Updates

Below is a selection of the projects which are actively halting and reversing the decline in wading birds in Scotland.  They show that we know what to do to make a difference to the long-term survival of wader species.  We now need to see activity like this happen in many, many more places.  If you want support with getting a project off the ground, please let us know.

The Grampian Wader and Wetland Initiative are seeing positive trends on sites that have deployed targeted management schemes.

The Angus Glens Moorland Group have launched a film charting the exceptional array of species found by scientists on an Angus Glens estate.

Following funding to enhance habitat, Glen Dochart Waders Project have found that curlew, lapwing oystercatcher and snipe have all increased in numbers since 2010, with 22 breeding pairs present in 2010, rising to 42 in 2017.

It’s AECS season for Strathspey Wetlands and Waders Initiative. Farmers are submitting Agri Environment Climate Scheme applications to add to the wader collaborations already running right across Strathspey. AECS funds in this area are critical for ensuring that farmers can adapt management to protect this nationally important wader population during the breeding season.

Encouraging results from Clyde Valley Wader Initiative wader surveys showing a 10% increase in breeding territories between 2013 and 2018. An excellent film of the project has been produced.

Gamekeepers, rangers and volunteers in the East Cairngorms have been working with the British Trust for Ornithology to investigate the challenges facing our breeding wader populations.

The Peesie Project on Glenlivet Estate aims to help halt these declines by building on current partnerships in the area and working with land managers to create and manage wetland habitat for wading birds including lapwings and curlews.

The concept of farmer clusters has got off the ground in England, with over 100 now established across the country. The idea behind them is that collaboration at landscape-scale achieves more for species and habitats than as individual farm units. As such, the principle appears well suited to Working for Waders in Scotland.

Blogs

Read the latest blog article by Patrick Laurie, Raising Awareness and Best Practice Action Group.

Wadertales Blogs are written by Graham Appleton, to celebrate waders and wader research. 

Wader Map
Watch out for the Working for Waders map which will be published shortly on the website.

If you are involved in work to conserve waders in Scotland please take a moment to fill out our online survey to let us know about it.