Skip to main content
close x

Key To Map

Choose the categories you would like to display on the map.

Choose the categories to be display on the map

Wading birds

The New Forest is very important for wading birds during their breeding season.

For many years across southern England, the wet and open habitats they need for breeding have been disappearing but in the New Forest, both inland and on the coast, large areas of suitable habitat remain.

Waders nest on the ground and heathland and valley mires with areas of short vegetation and wet ground are essential to their survival.

Because they nest on the ground in the open, breeding waders are very vulnerable to predators such as crows, badgers and foxes that eat the eggs or chicks.

Nests can also fail if the adults are scared off the eggs too frequently – the eggs then get too cold, or the adult birds may simply give up trying to breed in the first instance.

On heaths and wet ground, walkers should therefore keep themselves and their dog to the main tracks when waders are nesting (usually March – July). Keep your dog close to you and visible at all times – if necessary use a lead.



Gillie
Molland
Lead Ranger

profile

'To help ground nesting birds rear their young safely, keep yourself, dogs and ridden horses on the main tracks from the beginning of March to the end of August.'

Newsletter Image

Email

Newsletter

6

Free

Six free walking routes when you sign up for New Forest Newsletter


Subscribe to New Forest National Park Authority

By entering your email below you are consenting to us sending you newsletters. To unsubscribe, email communications@newforestnpa.gov.uk. More info: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/privacy-cookies


I think you mistyped your email
Your interests (tick at least one)










Please select one

By signing up to this form you are consenting to receive emails from us. Each email will contain a link to your personal reference settings where you can opt-out or change which emails you receive from us. Please read our Privacy Policy for more information about how we use data.

Subscribe to New Forest National Park Authority

Thanks, your subscription has been confirmed. You've been added to our list and your New Forest walking pack is on its way to you, including a link to download our free app.