Breeding density and habitat use of Common Snipe in upland Britain.

Abstract

The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is a bird of conservation concern in Britain and Ireland owing to substantial declines in the size and range of the breeding population on lowland farmland. Currently little is known about breeding densities and habitat use on upland moorland. In this study, the mean density of breeding Snipe across four moors in Northumberland, England was 2.28 ± 0.15 birds km^-2 (approximately 1.14-1.34 pair km^-2). Snipe densities in marsh and acid grass were approximately 3.7 x and 2.2 x higher than on heath and heath-grass mix habitats. Densities on acid grass were four times higher than on improved grassland. Territories were not located randomly with respect to habitat availability. They contained more marshy grassland and acid flush habitats and less dry heath than expected from habitat distribution on the four study moors. Within habitats, Snipe were flushed from locations that were closer to ditches or pools and characterised by wetter soil and more uneven swards than randomly selected points. Feeding sites had similar vegetation to resting sites, but feeding took place in wetter soil, closer to ditches or pools. This study indicates that the use of moorland by breeding Snipe is dependent upon the availability of wet habitats and unimproved grassland and we discuss the potential effects of upland management on these habitats and Snipe populations.