Outcome NR2
The in-bye suite of breeding wading birds (curlew, lapwing, redshank, snipe) are thriving in key areas
Key research interests include, but are not limited to:
- Remote sensing methods to monitor distribution, population, and breeding success (e.g. Audiomoth).
- Breeding success of in-bye wading birds in relation to multiple factors, including:
- Proximity to different types of woodland, scrub, trees
- Proximity to dry stone walls and hedges
- Other adjacent habitat
- Proximity to rights of way and popular dog walking routes
- Intensity and types of predator control
- Causes of breeding failure of wading birds on in-bye land (and elsewhere).
- Evidence for and causes of increase in rush abundance on rush pasture, and evidence for efficacy of techniques for management. E.g. what effect does lime application have on rush density.
- Weighing the benefits and costs of large-scale wooded landscape development against retention of open ground as wader habitat (see also Outcome NR3).
- A better understanding of the causes and effects of unnaturally high mesopredator densities.