Wader population trends and productivity 1987-2022 in Mid Deeside, North-East Scotland, and the factors driving them

Abstract

Long-term population trends are described for Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Curlew on Deeside, with accompanying breeding productivity figures for the first two species. Population trends are more positive for these species on Deeside than in Scotland at large or the UK, though there is evidence of a decline for Curlew. Breeding densities were much higher on the hill-farm Birse Glen sites than on the low-lying Flood Plain sites. We suggest that this is the result of differences in agricultural practices in the two areas, rendering Flood Plain less suitable for breeding waders, and to reduced productivity at the Flood Plain sites due to high rates of egg and/or chick predation. Wader populations on the Flood Plain sites are not sustainable and must be maintained by immigration from source populations. Source populations of waders in the UK and across much of Europe are highly unlikely in the absence of sympathetic habitat management coupled with legal predator control.