Spring is here, summer is on its way – and for dog owners across the UK, that means longer walks, lighter evenings, and more time exploring the great outdoors with our four-legged companions. But as we head out to enjoy the countryside, the RSPB is asking us all to spare a thought for some of our most vulnerable neighbours: ground-nesting birds.
Over half of the UK’s most threatened breeding birds nest on or near the ground – and many of them are in serious trouble. Species including Curlew, Skylark, Little Tern, Oystercatcher (main picture), Nightjar, and Lapwing all raise their young at ground level, across beaches, moorland, grassland, woodland, and scrub. Many are Red Listed, meaning their numbers are in rapid decline due to habitat loss, food shortages, and the impacts of climate change.
Even some of our most familiar garden birds – Robins, Wrens, and Dunnocks – build their nests low down in hedges, ivy, and shrubs, making them equally vulnerable during the breeding season, which runs from March through to September.
The problem? Dogs off the lead and walkers straying from paths can inadvertently disturb nesting birds – sometimes with devastating consequences.
A moment’s disturbance can cost a life
When a ground-nesting bird feels threatened, it will leave the nest until the perceived danger passes. But even a brief absence can be enough for eggs to cool and fail to hatch, or for small chicks – left unprotected – to succumb to cold, starvation, or predators seizing the opportunity.
Dr Conor Pharaoh-John, the RSPB’s Recreational Disturbance Programme Manager, explains: “The closer the bird’s nest is to the ground the more at risk it is to accidental disturbance mainly from people, who will likely be unaware the nest is there, and dogs freely roaming off lead.
“Exploring the countryside with our dogs is a great activity to get us out of the house and connecting to our local greenspaces. However, whilst we mean no harm to wildlife, people and dogs appear as potential predators to a bird, especially those nesting on the ground.”
What dog owners can do
The good news is that a few simple steps can make a real difference:
Stick to marked paths. Keeping to designated pathways helps protect birds, eggs, and chicks hidden in the vegetation around you.
Keep dogs under close control. Between March and August, while parent birds are sitting on eggs and chicks are on the ground, keeping dogs on a lead or under very close control is one of the most important things we can do. Chicks become increasingly mobile from July onwards, putting them in even greater danger.
Give birds plenty of space. If you spot a bird on a nest or chicks running about, keep a minimum distance of 100 metres to help protect them.
How to spot the signs
Nests and eggs are often superbly camouflaged and incredibly difficult to see – but there are telltale behaviours to watch for. Parent birds in distress may alarm call, swoop low, or fly back and forth across your path. Birds carrying nesting material or food in their beaks may dive into a patch of scrub or grass and not re-emerge, suggesting a nest is nearby. And some species, such as Lapwings and Ringed Plovers, will even feign injury – dragging a wing along the ground to draw a perceived predator away from their young.
Mike Shurmer, Head of Species and Habitats for RSPB England, said: “A Skylark egg can be as small as the width of a 5p piece. And when those eggs hatch, chicks will stay camouflaged in their nest until they’re ready to fledge. However, the chicks of other ground-nesting species like Oystercatcher, Curlew and Ringed Plover are very independent on hatching and will quickly start running around outside the nest. Their markings still make them highly camouflaged, but they’re much more likely to be closer to people and dogs than expected.”
Waterways matter too
It’s not just walkers and dog owners who can help. Swimmers and paddlers can also play their part by keeping a steady, predictable course and limiting wildlife viewing to just a few minutes. As Dr Pharaoh-John adds: “Being on the water offers a fantastic chance to experience wildlife from a unique perspective. Our waterways are lifelines for many species, so it’s important to think about how our presence might affect them. By keeping a steady, predictable course, and limiting viewing to just a few minutes, swimmers and paddlers can help ensure birds and wildlife aren’t disturbed or disrupted from feeding, breeding or caring for their young.”
Every chick counts
With breeding bird populations under increasing pressure, every successful nest matters. By making small, mindful changes to how we enjoy the outdoors with our pets, we can all play our part in helping the next generation of ground-nesting birds survive and thrive.
For more information, visit the RSPB’s guide: Protecting Ground Nesting Birds: What You Can Do to Help.