REQUEST FOR
INFORMATION ON BREEDING SITES
HELP
LAPWING, CURLEW AND SNIPE
IN THE CLUN UPLANDS
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON BREEDING SITES
All three species are now scarce in the Clun Uplands, and they are
getting more scarce. Conservation
organisations, Defra and the Shropshire Hills AONB Office all want to assess the
population of these birds, find out the level of breeding success, and take
action to reverse the decline. We need your help to find them all to do this,
please.
The area covered is the part of
Shropshire
to the west of the A488 road
between Bishop’s Castle and Knighton, around 120 square kilometres.
LAPWING
The population in the Clun Uplands now appears to be less than ten pairs,
and the species may be on the verge of extinction here. A survey in 2005 found
only five pairs. Only two chicks were fledged by one of these pairs. The other
four all failed, either accidentally destroyed by farming activities, or lost to
predation. The population and range has decreased considerably in the last 15
years. Breeding success is not
sufficient to sustain even the current small population. Urgent action is now needed to prevent Lapwing becoming
extinct in the area.
CURLEW
Curlews are very conspicuous, and have large breeding territories.
Their population is likely to be over-estimated. Only 11 pairs were
counted in 2005. Although some may have been overlooked, the total is almost
certainly well under 20 pairs. Again,
the amount of suitable habitat is declining, and the range has decreased in the
last 15 years.
The level of breeding success is not known, but again it is likely to be
insufficient to sustain even the existing small population.
SNIPE
Snipe are very common in winter, but very few stay to breed.
A survey in 2004 found only 4 - 5 breeding pairs in the Clun Uplands (3 -
4 at Rhos Fiddle and Bicton Hill, and another one on
Black
Mountain
,
near Badger Moor Plantation). They are very elusive, and are mainly active at
dawn and dusk. Drumming or chipping is the most likely evidence. Were any
missed?
Snipe
need extensive areas of open, permanently wet, ground for breeding. Action will
be taken to create more potential nest sites.
If
you know of breeding sites for any of these three species or see Lapwing or
Curlew at any time, or Snipe from early May onwards
Please
contact Leo
Smith
immediately
01588
638577
back
to Research Page