We look at the birds at risk and why their worrying declines highlight the need to protect UK shores.
Scientists reviewing the conservation status of the world’s bird populations have confirmed that four UK shorebird species have seen significant declines in numbers. As a result, Grey Plovers, Dunlins, Turnstones and Curlew Sandpipers have moved to higher threat categories on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Grey Plovers spend the winter mainly on estuaries and have declined by more than 30% globally since the late 1990s. Their conservation status has moved two categories from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Vulnerable’.
Dunlins also spend the winter mainly on estuaries and have declined by at least 20% globally since the early 2000s, resulting in them being moved one category from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Near Threatened’.
Turnstones can be found in more countries worldwide than almost any other bird species and mainly spend the winter on more rocky coastlines. They have declined by at least 20% globally since the mid-2000s and have moved one category from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Near Threatened’.
Curlew Sandpipers are a scarce species that passes through the UK on their autumn migration between its wintering areas further south and its Arctic breeding grounds. They have declined by more than 30% globally since the late 2000s and have moved one category from ‘Near Threatened’ to ‘Vulnerable’.
The IUCN Red List for birds by BirdLife International, of which the RSPB is the UK partner, assesses the risk of extinction of a species should no conservation action be taken.
It is not just these four UK shorebirds that are struggling. This latest IUCN Red List update for birds has revealed a highly concerning downwards trend in migratory shorebird numbers globally, with 16 species moved to higher threat categories.
Migratory birds follow migration routes called flyways. Along these routes, they need places to rest and feed, making them especially at risk from threats such as habitat loss due to rising sea levels and climate change.
Every autumn, hundreds of thousands of threatened wading birds and waterfowl embark on epic journeys across land and sea to reach UK estuaries and spend their winters here.
For many of these birds, including Dunlin, Turnstone and Grey Plover, these estuaries are a vital lifeline as part of the connected network of coastal habitats along the bird “superhighway”, known as the East Atlantic Flyway.
These habitats provide essential nutrients and a place to refuel, and this Red List update highlights the global importance of the UK’s shorelines and estuaries for migratory birds. While many estuaries are protected by special designations, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), they are under threat and face a myriad of challenges including pollution, development and climate change, with sea level rise causing increased erosion and a heightened risk of coastal flooding, forcing wildlife into smaller and smaller spaces.
These coastal areas are not only vital for wildlife, but also provide food, jobs, and flood protection. Milo Sumner, RSPB England Coastal Programmes Manager, explains: “The irony is that the estuaries and other coastal areas that these birds, and our coastal communities, rely on are not only vital for wildlife, they can also help fight the climate crisis – if we look after them. But globally, they are being degraded or destroyed globally at four times the rate of tropical forests. It is crucial that we protect our UK shorelines if we are to tackle the nature and climate crisis.”
With the UN biodiversity conference COP16 underway until 1 November, it’s a timely reminder that governments must not miss this vital opportunity to take urgent action to reverse habitat loss, protect species and preserve the ecosystems upon which all wildlife and people depend.
International declines in migratory shorebirds highlight the significant challenges facing nature worldwide, as well as the critical need to collaborate beyond borders and to ensure that countries take action to safeguard the habitats found along the migration routes that these threatened birds take.
Dr Guy Anderson, the RSPB’s migratory birds programme manager, said: “Migratory bird populations know no borders and are a key indicator of the health of the planet. With the return of many migratory bird species to our shores heralded each year, it’s extremely concerning to see these declines.
“The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed two years ago created a chance to reverse nature’s decline, but now we really need to turn these promises into urgent action. The UK Government must commit to urgently publish detailed, ambitious action plans outlining how the UK will contribute to global efforts to save our natural world. Time is running out, but we still have an opportunity to take a leading role in protecting nature and the wild spaces we all rely on.”
Around the UK, we work hard to protect estuaries and make them the best that they can be for wildlife. This involves protecting the wider landscape around estuaries, including looking after our nature reserves which can also act as natural flood defences. Where possible and beneficial to wildlife, we also enhance wetland landscapes and support UK estuaries by campaigning against inappropriate developments which threaten them.
And there are other practical steps that we can all take to help migratory birds over the winter too. RSPB England Coastal Programmes Manager Milo Sumner explains: “Thankfully, we can all play our part in supporting our very tired and very hungry shorebirds after their arrival this winter, and the best way to do this is by not disturbing them. If we disturb these birds, they will be scared into taking flight, which wastes all the energy they are so desperately trying to build up from feeding.
“We ask people to keep to public paths, avoid getting too close to large groups of feeding or resting birds, and to please keep dogs on leads during this vulnerable season. If we work together our winter birds can get the nourishment and rest time they so urgently need while we are lucky enough to have them here in the UK.”
