As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Thursday, 5 June 2014

Wading in to help moorland birds

9:27AM, TUE 3 JUN 2014

Last updated Tue 3 Jun 2014


A survey recording the number of waders breeding on the North York Moors is currently underway. Funded by the National Park Authority and Natural England, information collected during the survey will be used to inform future decisions around moorland management to benefit these birds.

Curlew, golden plover, lapwing and snipe are the four species of wader that nest on the North York Moors. Lapwing is ‘red’ listed as a Bird of Conservation Concern affording it the highest conservation priority with species needing urgent action.


The other three are all listed as ‘amber status’. Curlew is also identified as ‘Near Threatened’ under International Union for the Conservation of Nature international criteria, one of only four UK breeding birds listed and the one for which we have the greatest proportion of the global population.


Wintering on marshes, estuaries and wetlands, the birds return to the moorland from April to July to nest and raise their young. Each species favours slightly different habitats but all generally need an open aspect with relatively easy access between moorland.

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