Vanellus Vanellus Research Articles

An Assessment of Water bird species and associated water bird composition in the Haiderpur Wetland of Hastinapur Wildlife sanctuary Uttar Pradesh, India

Bird species are natural indicators of healthy ecosystem. Indian sub-continent contributes about 13% of the world avian species. A study was carried out between year 2017 and 2019, at Haiderpur wetland (Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary) along the Ganga River in Utter Pradesh. Total 66 water bird species belonging to 15 families were encountered. Among the water bird species 04 Vulnerable (Common Pochard, Black headed ibis, Sarus crane, Indian skimmer), 06 near threaten (River Lapwing, Northern lapwing, River tern, Painted stork, Woolly-necked Stork, Black-tailed Godwit) and 01 Endangered (Black-bellied Tern) waterbird species (as per IUCN records) were reported in the Haiderpur wetland area. The contribution of water migratory bird is about 29% in the study area. This area is contributing as birding site thus more focus on conservation of this site.

Wetlands support higher breeding wader densities than farmed habitats within a nature-rich farming system

ABSTRACT Capsule Wetlands with little or no agricultural activity support higher breeding wader densities than more intensively farmed habitats within a nature-rich farmed landscape. Aims To test whether breeding wader densities differ between habitats likely to receive varying agricultural management intensity, within a nature-rich farmed landscape. Methods Using the island of Sanday as a case study for the wader-rich Orkney archipelago, a whole-island breeding wader survey was used to generate population estimates and test whether breeding densities differed between habitats under varying management intensities. Results The island supported nationally high breeding wader densities, which approach those of high-density areas elsewhere in Europe. Densities of total waders and five out of six species tested varied significantly between habitats. Wetlands subject to no agricultural management or livestock grazing in some land units supported higher densities than more intensively farmed habitats for total waders, Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago and Common Redshank Tringa totanus and second-highest densities for Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata. Agriculturally unimproved grassland supported the highest densities for many species after wetlands. Agriculturally improved grassland supported consistently low relative breeding densities, and other habitats managed using mechanized farming (lower intensity improved grassland and arable) supported generally low relative densities, apart from for Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus. Conclusions Describing an entire mixed farming system as nature-rich may mask significant variation in the contribution of different habitats to the maintenance of high nature value. In this system, wetlands that were unmanaged or received low average grazing densities supported disproportionately high breeding wader densities and must be protected to maintain the high densities of most species. The further loss of wetlands, and the move towards intensively managed grassland, is a threat to the maintenance of high breeding wader densities on Orkney and in similar farmed landscapes.

About Conservation Status of Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus in Armenia

Population monitoring of Northern Lapwing (NL) was conducted in Armenia during 2003–2019 and demonstrated that NL disappeared in three 10x10 km squares. The total AOO of NL is estimated as 496 km2 , the EOO, as 20,744 km2 . Estimation of national population in 2019 makes 860–1120 breeding pairs. In 2003-2019, the population trend showed a moderate decline (Wald-Test = 10.47, df = 15, p = 0.7891; Overall slope model: Additive = -0.0128, SE = 0.0052, Multiplicative = 0.9873, SE = 0.0052; p < 0.05). The observed decrease makes -26% during 17 years (-1.53% per annum), the estimated decrease makes -43% during 27 years (three generations of NL). The hunting pressures NL via exceeding the daily bag limits, and by shooting NL, when prohibited. The State Inspection has a difficulty in controlling the hunting and poaching being understaffed and underfinanced. In livestock husbandry, the number of NL decreases with an increase of cattle (R2 = 0.425, F1,15 = 11.079, p = 0.005), most probably due to increased mowing. Currently NL qualifies for Armenian Red List as Vulnerable A2bc + B2abv + C1. To protect NL, the current candidate Emerald Sites should become official ones protected by Bern Convention, the current public hunting lands should be excluded from Emerald Sites, and current agricultural practices should be reviewed, changing the way of machinery mowing. The mechanism of hunting licencing should include strict hunters’ exam. The State Inspection should start cooperation with hunters’ unions. The continued monitoring of NL remains essential.

The Shetland Bird Survey: population trends for widespread breeding birds 2002–2019

ABSTRACT Capsule Population trends are estimated for the first time for 12 species based on Shetland Breeding Bird Survey data collected between 2002 and 2019. Aim To provide population trends for a selection of commoner breeding waders and passerines on the Shetland Isles, the most northerly region of the UK, which has historically been under-represented in national bird monitoring schemes. Methods One hundred and forty-five self-selected 1-km2 squares were surveyed between 2002 and 2019 using similar methods to the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), the main breeding bird monitoring scheme in the UK. Results Over 17 years, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, and Common Redshank Tringa totanus populations declined whilst Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata and Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago showed no significant changes in their population trends. For passerines, Common Skylark Alauda arvensis and Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe populations declined, whilst Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris, Common Blackbird Turdus merula, and House Sparrow Passer domesticus increased. Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes and Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis showed no significant population changes. Comparisons with BBS trends for the UK and for Scotland are provided. For Eurasian Curlew, Common Starling, and House Sparrow, trends were more favourable in Shetland than elsewhere in UK. Conclusion The Shetland Breeding Bird Survey provides useful trends for several bird species, which include important breeding numbers of Winter Wren and Common Starling (both endemic subspecies), as well as nationally important wader populations. We recommend increasing the number of survey squares sampled each year, which would increase the precision of population estimates. The inclusion of a random or stratified element to square selection would help to ensure that these trends are representative of the wider region.

A longitudinal study of the effects of trees, geese and avian predators on breeding wader meadow birds: the case of the Demmerik polder, the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, breeding populations of wader meadow birds are in sharp decline. One possible cause is that breeding areas are becoming less open because of tall trees and other factors. The effects of tree lines are generally studied by means of transversal studies spanning a short period of time. We report on a longitudinal field study from 1993 to 2010 into the breeding densities of Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) and Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) in the Demmerik polder, the Netherlands. One part of this polder, a nature reserve, has an older tree line, while two agricultural parts are divided by a newly developing tree line. As the tree line in the agricultural parts was developing, foraging families of Greylag Goose (Anser anser) showed a strong increase in only one of these parts during the breeding season. During the same period, the density of avian predators also increased in the whole polder. Analysis shows waders avoid trees in both situations: with an existing tree line (a static situation) and with a growing tree line (a dynamic situation). We investigated the possible role of geese and avian predators in explaining the decline in density of breeding wader meadow birds, by systematic comparison of several different models. In these models, the effect of the growing tree line has the greatest impact on breeding meadow birds. Models with geese describe the trends of breeding wader meadow birds better than those including avian predators, but since these two variables, geese and avian predators, are confounded, no definitive conclusion can yet be drawn. Potential explanations of and functional mechanisms behind the strong decline in breeding meadow bird populations in this area are discussed.

Daily Rhythms of Female Self-maintenance Correlate with Predation Risk and Male Nest Attendance in a Biparental Wader

Parents make tradeoffs between care for offspring and themselves. Such a tradeoff should be reduced in biparental species, when both parents provide parental care. However, in some biparental species, the contribution of one sex varies greatly over time or between pairs. How this variation in parental care influences self-maintenance rhythms is often unclear. In this study, we used continuous video recording to investigate the daily rhythms of sleep and feather preening in incubating females of the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), a wader with a highly variable male contribution to incubation. We found that the female's sleep frequency peaked after sunrise and before sunset but was low in the middle of the day and especially during the night. In contrast, preening frequency followed a 24-h rhythm and peaked in the middle of the day. Taken together, incubating females rarely slept or preened during the night, when the predation pressure was highest. Moreover, the sleeping and preening rhythms were modulated by the male contribution to incubation. Females that were paired with more contributing males showed a stronger sleep rhythm but also a weaker preening rhythm. If more incubating males also invest more in nest guarding and deterring daylight predators, their females may afford more sleep on the nest during the day and preen more when they are off the nest. Whether the lack of sleep in females paired with less caregiving males has fitness consequences awaits future investigation.

Bird Bone Remains from Two Medieval Settlements in Debrecen (Eastern Hungary)

This paper presents results on three medieval avian bone assemblages found at Debrecen-Monostor-erdő and Debrecen-Tócó-part, respectively. Domestic chicken yielded most of the bird remains to evidence the exploitation of adult birds for egg production and flock maintenance in particular. In addition, feather harvesting and fat production could have been the target of goose (and possibly duck) husbandry. Although the goose bone sizes resemble the greylag goose, the keeping of an unimproved form of domestic goose rather than the hunting of the wild ancestor is suggested by the structure of the assemblage and the presence of healed bones. Wild birds seem to have been rarely consumed by the settlers of the two villages, but the feathers or wings or carcasses of diurnal birds of prey and crows may have been used for special purposes. Either killed for their symbolic meaning or only persecuted for protecting the backyard animals, the red kite (Milvus milvus) and the hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) represent new species for the medieval avifauna of Hungary, similarly to the Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) and the Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) that could have been hunted in the marshy environment provided by the Tócó creek. Moreover, the use of trained saker falcon(Falco cherrug)for hawking cannot be excluded either. In addition to the exploitation of birds for the abovementioned goods and values, two needle cases made from goose bones evidence the utilization of their skeletal parts as raw material for producing artefacts as well.

Benefits of the European Agri-Environment Schemes for Wintering Lapwings: A Case Study from Rice Fields in the Mediterranean Region

Mediterranean European rice fields provide important habitats for migrating waterbirds. In winter, one waterbird species that particularly benefits from rice fields is the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), a species threatened in Europe. To assess the effect of agri-environmental measures on rice field selection and use by wintering lapwings, bird counts were conducted in northeastern Spain during two consecutive winters (2005-2006 and 2006-2007). Information on two mandatory post-harvest management prescriptions of the agri-environment schemes was collected, namely winter flooding (percent ground surface covered by water) and whether fields were rolled or not. The number of lapwings in rolled fields was significantly higher compared to non-rolled fields. For instance, an average rolled field with 50% water cover (percentage at which lapwing abundance more or less peaked) would host an estimated 12.03 ± 0.52 SE lapwings versus 0.18 ± 0.58 in a non-rolled field. While the maximum abundance of lapwings in rolled fields was found at an intermediate percentage of water cover (about 25 to 75%), the number of lapwings increased steadily with water cover in non-rolled fields. Rice post-harvest practices derived from the agri-environment schemes are beneficial for biodiversity, promoting the conservation of suitable habitats for waterbirds.

Seasonality Predicts Egg Size Better Than Nesting Habitat in a Precocial Shorebird

Egg size represents a fundamental predictor of chick mass and body condition. Chicks from bigger eggs have significantly increased survival, especially in precocial species, where chicks must forage for themselves and cope with environmental threats, such as bad weather or predators. Therefore, our understanding of the factors influencing egg size is crucial both from the perspective of their breeding ecology as well as of their conservation. However, studies simultaneously addressing multiple factors and quantifying their influence on egg size in large samples are rare. Here, we test the effect of seasonality, clutch size and nesting habitat on egg size, measured as volume, in a ground-nesting shorebird, the Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, using a sample of 4384 eggs from 1125 clutches in South Bohemia, Czech Republic, during the period between 1988 and 2018. We report a significant decline in egg size over the breeding season, on average bigger eggs in larger clutches with a significant difference between 2-egg and 4-egg clutches, and no direct effect of nesting habitat. From our review of the same predictors across 15 Northern Lapwing populations throughout Europe it is apparent that replacement or late clutches have on average 3–7% smaller eggs than first or early clutches. Nesting habitat only rarely affects egg size and there are no significant differences in egg size between 3-egg and 4-egg clutches. Earlier studies showed that chicks hatching from bigger eggs early in the breeding season performed better, and that there was higher food abundance available for chicks at that time. This fact, together with the documented seasonal decline in egg size, sends an important message to conservationists and policymakers that early breeding attempts may play a pivotal role in safeguarding shorebird breeding productivity.

Population dynamics and habitat use by Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus in agricultural landscape of Dravsko and Ptujsko polje (NE Slovenia)

Abstract The Northern Lapwing numbers across Europe are declining owing to its insufficient breeding success. To determine the size, dynamics and habitat use of the lapwing population at Dravsko and Ptujsko polje, a survey was carried out between 2016 and 2018. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, we recorded 148, 130, and 117 pairs, respectively. The population declined during the study and the population trend is uncertain. Approximately 12 to 21% of the national lapwing population was recorded at Dravsko and Ptujsko polje, making them one of the most important breeding areas in Slovenia. The majority of lapwings were found in bare tilled fields and fields with young spring crops that enable unbroken all-round views. Crop data analysis showed a significant preference for maize fields which are mostly bare tillage at the start of the incubation period and therefore act as an ecological trap for lapwings due to the time coincidence of the nesting period and farming operations. For the protection of the lapwing in Slovenia, we recommend a time limit of farming operations or avoiding individual nests while working in the field. Both measures are recommended to be implemented in combination with the provision of suitable foraging habitat for chicks. For greater effectiveness, we propose priority implementation of conser vation measures on traditiona l breeding sites.

Meadow Birds at the Waning Traditional Pasture Animal Husbandry

Журнал принимает на русском и английском языках статьи, представляющие результаты научных исследований в различных областях теоретической и прикладной экологии. Приоритет отдается научным статьям, основанным на явно сформулированных гипотезах.

Great variability in nest lining size: support for thermoregulation but not for anti-predatory adaptation hypothesis

Nest lining is a key component in nests of many bird species. Among ground-nesting birds with open nests, it usually consists of dry sticks and stalks creating a thermoregulatory insulating layer for the eggs. However, a bigger nest lining can attract predators and increase nest mortality. The factors influencing behavioural plasticity in birds facing the trade-off between nest lining thermoregulation and conspicuousness for predators have remained poorly understood. The Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, a visibly incubating shorebird with an active nest defence against potential predators, demonstrates great variability in the size of nest lining and, at the same time, is subject to a high frequency of nest predation. We analysed the variability of nest-lining size across time and space in 915 measurements of 601 lapwing nests in South Bohemia, Czech Republic, during 2010–2015. We show that lapwing nests placed closer to small water pools with generally cooler microclimates had bigger nest lining. The size of nest linings also reflected the availability of nest lining material in the vicinity of the nest. On the other hand, there was no effect of nest position within the breeding association and distance to the nearest perch as a possible stand for predators on nest lining size. Furthermore, nest lining size did not predict nest predation rate. Our findings suggest that lapwings adjust the size of their nest lining to local microclimate conditions rather than potential predation risk which is in concordance with the thermoregulation hypothesis of the nest size in birds.

Parental incubation exchange in a territorial bird species involves sex-specific signalling

BackgroundEffective communication between sexual partners is essential for successful reproduction. Avian parents with biparental incubation need to know how to negotiate, when and who will incubate, and how to harmonize partner exchange at the nest. Although considerable effort has been dedicated to studies of incubation rhythms, few studies have investigated how behavioural signals serve to tighten cooperation between parents. Moreover, existing studies are almost exclusively restricted to species in which long distances between incubating and non-incubating parents prevent continuous communication during incubation. Thus, the most frequently described parental exchange system is a simple model characterized by the return of the non-incubating parent to the nest itself. Here, we propose more complex parental exchange behaviour in the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), a territorial species capable of continuous partner communication during incubation and with a highly variable male contribution to incubation.ResultsNorthern Lapwing females regularly vocalized shortly before departing from the nest, while males mostly left the nest quietly. Responsiveness of the male to female vocalization, perhaps in combination with her flying away from the nest, helped to synchronize incubation care by increasing the probability of exchange, and also by shortening the exchange gaps. In contrast, a male-to-female exchange gap most often occurred after the male quietly flew away from the nest. The frequency of female vocal signalling was not correlated with the male incubation effort on a between-nest scale, but the highest probability of a female-to-male exchange occurred after vocal signalling by females with the most nest-attentive males. Conversely, lowered effort by females to vocalize in the night was accompanied by lower willingness of males to incubate.ConclusionsOur results suggest that (1) that the incubating parent can communicate with the non-incubating partner using sex-specific behavioural signals, and this helps to synchronize parental exchange on the nest, (2) this signalling may combine acoustic and visual cues, and (3) the efficiency of this signalling might influence the overall nest attendance. The presumption that the repertoire of behavioural signals during reproduction will be much more complex in territorial species that are capable of continuous communication between the partners during the incubation period should be further tested.

Diversity of incubation rhythms in a facultatively uniparental shorebird \u2013 the Northern Lapwing

In birds, incubation by both parents is a common form of care for eggs. Although the involvement of the two parents may vary dramatically between and within pairs, as well as over the course of the day and breeding season, detailed descriptions of this variation are rare, especially in species with variable male contributions to care. Here, we continuously video-monitored 113 nests of Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus to reveal the diversity of incubation rhythms and parental involvement, as well as their daily and seasonal variation. We found great between-nest variation in the overall nest attendance (68–94%; median = 87%) and in how much males attended their nests (0–37%; median = 13%). Notably, the less the males attended their nests, the lower was the overall nest attendance, even though females partially compensated for the males’ decrease. Also, despite seasonal environmental trends (e.g. increasing temperature), incubation rhythms changed little over the season and 27-day incubation period. However, as nights shortened with the progressing breeding season, the longest night incubation bout of females shortened too. Importantly, within the 24h-day, nest attendance was highest, incubation bouts longest, exchange gaps shortest and male involvement lowest during the night. Moreover, just after sunrise and before sunset males attended the nest the most. To conclude, we confirm substantial between nest differences in Lapwing male nest attendance, reveal how such differences relates to variation in incubation rhythms, and describe strong circadian incubation rhythms modulated by sunrise and sunset.

Exact inference for integrated population modelling.

Integrated population modelling is widely used in statistical ecology. It allows data from population time series and independent surveys to be analysed simultaneously. In classical analysis the time-series likelihood component can be conveniently approximated using Kalman filter methodology. However, the natural way to model systems which have a discrete state space is to use hidden Markov models (HMMs). The proposed method avoids the Kalman filter approximations and Monte Carlo simulations. Subject to possible numerical sensitivity analysis, it is exact, flexible, and allows the use of standard techniques of classical inference. We apply the approach to data on Little owls, where the model is shown to require a one-dimensional state space, and Northern lapwings, with a two-dimensional state space. In the former example the method identifies a parameter redundancy which changes the perception of the data needed to estimate immigration in integrated population modelling. The latter example may be analysed using either first- or second-order HMMs, describing numbers of one-year olds and adults or adults only, respectively. The use of first-order chains is found to be more efficient, mainly due to the smaller number of one-year olds than adults in this application. For the lapwing modelling it is necessary to group the states in order to reduce the large dimension of the state space. Results check with Bayesian and Kalman filter analyses, and avenues for future research are identified.

Managing coastal grasslands for an endangered wader species can give a positive result only when expanding the area of open landscape

Abstract The rapid loss of wetlands during the 20th century has caused a severe decline in the biota associated with these habitats. In Europe, the loss of wet grasslands has seriously affected breeding waders, whose numbers have halved in the past 50 years and remaining populations are facing fragmented, low quality habitats. To improve the remaining sites as breeding grounds for these birds, the exact habitat requirements of the species need to be known. Our study was carried out in Boreal Baltic coastal grasslands in Estonia, where land abandonment has been the main reason behind waders’ population declines in the past decades. Hence, we focus on partially overgrown fields, aiming to ascertain habitat characteristics determining the breeding site selection of meadow birds, especially the endangered Southern Dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii). We studied the breeding site selection of four wader species (Southern Dunlin, Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)) in 23 coastal grasslands over two years. We analysed seven habitat characteristics which could influence the breeding habitat selection of these species. Our study demonstrates that breeding sites of all studied wader species are located closer to wet areas and coastline and further away from woodland. Also, the height of the ground level has an impact on the breeding probability, with lower areas favoured. Concerning the Southern Dunlin, our results show that on sites where the species was absent, suitable breeding sites, regarding the distance from woodland edge, were absent. Thus, reforestation of grasslands may be the key reason behind the poor population status of the species. We also demonstrated that proximity of reed beds did not influence the breeding site selection of waders – a result which contradicts current wet grassland management suggestions. Expanding the open landscape, maintaining a large quantity of wet features suitable for foraging and preventing overgrowth of coastline and lower parts of the meadow makes the habitat optimal for breeding waders. Concerning the growth of the population size and spatial distribution of the Southern Dunlin, removal of woodlands adjacent to grasslands is crucial.

Managing coastal grasslands for an endangered wader species can give positive results only when expanding the area of open landscape

The rapid loss of wetlands during the 20th century has caused a severe decline in the biota associated with these habitats. In Europe, the loss of wet grasslands has seriously affected breeding waders, whose numbers have halved in the past 50 years and remaining populations are facing fragmented, low quality habitats. To improve the remaining sites as breeding grounds for these birds, the exact habitat requirements of the species need to be known. Our study was carried out in Boreal Baltic coastal grasslands in Estonia, where land abandonment has been the main reason behind waders’ population declines in the past decades. Hence, we focus on partially overgrown fields, aiming to ascertain habitat characteristics determining the breeding site selection of meadow birds, especially the endangered Southern Dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii).We studied the breeding site selection of four wader species (Southern Dunlin, Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)) in 23 coastal grasslands over two years. We analysed seven habitat characteristics which could influence the breeding habitat selection of these species.Our study demonstrates that breeding sites of all studied wader species are located closer to wet areas and coastline and further away from woodland. Also, the height of the ground level has an impact on the breeding probability, with lower areas favoured. Concerning the Southern Dunlin, our results show that on sites where the species was absent, suitable breeding sites, regarding the distance from woodland edge, were absent. Thus, reforestation of grasslands may be the key reason behind the poor population status of the species. We also demonstrated that proximity of reed beds did not influence the breeding site selection of waders – a result which contradicts current wet grassland management suggestions.Expanding the open landscape, maintaining a large quantity of wet features suitable for foraging and preventing overgrowth of coastline and lower parts of the meadow makes the habitat optimal for breeding waders. Concerning the growth of the population size and spatial distribution of the Southern Dunlin, removal of woodlands adjacent to grasslands is crucial.

Flash in the pan: how grassland renewal affects reproduction of Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus

ABSTRACTCapsule: Grassland renewal is associated with short-term beneficial effects on density and reproduction of Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus followed by long-lasting reduced breeding numbers after sward establishment.Aims: To assess short- and long-term effects of grassland renewal on the reproduction of Northern Lapwings.Methods: In the years 1999–2011 we counted breeding Northern Lapwings on 18 reseeded grassland plots in a chronosequence ranging from one year before until 3 years after reseeding. We also monitored nesting dispersion and hatching success in different habitats, particularly tillage, permanent grasslands and reseeded grasslands during sward establishment.Results: Grassland that underwent reseeding possessed several-fold more Northern Lapwings during the phase of sward establishment than before. In the subsequent years, breeding numbers significantly declined and remained low throughout the study period. In recently reseeded grassland, Northern Lapwings tended to breed in larger colonies. Although habitat-specific differences in hatching success were not significant, we found significantly higher nest predation rates in agriculturally improved grasslands than in tillage and reseeded grasslands during sward establishment.Conclusions: Due to its long-term adverse effects on density and reproduction of Northern Lapwings, grassland renewal should not be practised in areas with conservation responsibilities for grassland-breeding waders.

Fodder crop management benefits Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) outside agri-environment schemes

To date, agri-environment schemes (AES) have had limited success in reversing biodiversity loss over greater spatial extents than fields and farms, and vary widely in their cost-effectiveness. Here, over nine years, we make use of the management initiative of a farmer in an upland livestock farming landscape in Scotland, undertaken wholly outside AES, to examine its effect on breeding densities of Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus. Management designed by the farmer involved planting a Brassica fodder crop for two consecutive years followed by reseeding with grass, with eight out of 17 fields at the farm undergoing this management since 1997. After controlling for other habitat parameters of importance, the density of breeding Lapwings was 52% higher in fields that had undergone fodder crop management than those that had not. Densities were highest in the first year after the fodder crop was planted, prior to reseeding with grass, but remained above levels in control fields for approximately seven years after the fodder crop was last planted. Very high Lapwing densities (modelled density = 1 pair ha-1) in the year after the fodder crop was planted likely result from the heterogeneous ground surface created by grazing of the crop providing an “attractive” nesting habitat. Continued high densities following reseeding with grass may partly be accounted for by philopatry, but the fact that they are field-specific also suggests that these fields continue to offer enhanced foraging conditions for several years. Fodder crop management was implemented at the study site to fatten lambs over winter and ultimately improve grass condition for grazing. This system is therefore based on active farming and benefits both the farmer and breeding Lapwings. As such, it may be possible to implement it more widely without the need for high agri-environment payments. More generally, it is an example of the land owner being actively involved in developing conservation solutions in partnership with environmental research, rather than being seen as a passive recipient of knowledge as has typically been the case with the design of AES. Such approaches need to be adopted more consistently in designing interventions for environmental outcomes on farmland, but may be of particular importance in the UK if the certainties of European Union AES are to come to an end.

Distribution and Long-Term Population Trends of Wintering Waterbirds in Poyang Lake, China

Although total wintering waterbirds have increased in Poyang Lake, some groups or species might have declined. Identifying declining groups and species will help to optimize conservation strategies. In addition, knowledge of waterbird distribution is required to identify priority areas for protection. In this study, we aimed to explore long-term population trends of waterbird groups and species and to investigate waterbird distribution in Poyang Lake by integrating survey data from 1996/1997 to 2014/2015. Poyang Lake Nature Reserve, Duchang and Nanji Wetland Nature Reserve had high waterbird richness and abundance and high proportion of IUCN endangered species, thus they are important areas for waterbird protection. An important limitation to waterbird protection in the three areas is lack of management rights of most sub-lakes. Most waterbird groups in Poyang Lake have grown, but ducks have declined. Hunting and the decline of aquatic vegetation might be driving the duck declines. In addition, White-naped Crane (Grus vipio), Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) and Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) have declined. While we believe the data presented here indicate general trends in groups and species, the analyses suffered from variation in methods used in different surveys. We advocate long-term waterbird monitoring using standardized methods to better understand waterbirds’ population dynamics.