Lapwings, farming and environmental stewardship
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Published source details
Merricks P. (2010) Lapwings, farming and environmental stewardship. British Wildlife, 22, 10-13.
Published source details Merricks P. (2010) Lapwings, farming and environmental stewardship. British Wildlife, 22, 10-13.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Maintain traditional water meadows Action Link |
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Maintain traditional water meadows (includes management for breeding and/or wintering waders/waterfowl) Action Link |
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Maintain traditional water meadows
A replicated study in 2010 on four areas of wet grassland managed for wildlife in Kent, England (Merricks 2010), found that productivity of northern lapwings Vanellus vanellus was too low to sustain populations on three of the four (i.e. below 0.7 chicks/pair/year, which is thought to be the level necessary to maintain populations). The author identifies five management practices thought to be important for lapwing success: grazing regime; water availability; ‘micro-topography’ (changes in ground level to provide a range of habitats); reduced fertiliser inputs and predator control. At least one of these was rated as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ in all three sites with low productivity.
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Maintain traditional water meadows (includes management for breeding and/or wintering waders/waterfowl)
A replicated study in 2010 on four areas of wet grassland managed for wildlife in Kent, England (Merricks 2010) found that productivity of northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus was too low to sustain populations on three of the four areas (i.e. below 0.7 chicks/pair/year, which is thought to be the level necessary to maintain populations). The author identifies five management practices thought to be important for lapwing success: grazing regime, water availability, ‘micro-topography’ (changes in ground level to provide a range of habitats), reduced fertilizer inputs and predator control. At least one of these was rated as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ in all three sites with low productivity.
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