Wader Week – get the right advice

Wader Week runs from 18-24 May and aims to raise awareness of this remarkable group of birds, the challenges they face and the work being done to reverse population declines.

It was started by the Working for Waders partnership in Scotland to highlight the plight of wading birds, particularly lapwing, curlew, oystercatcher, redshank and golden plover, whose numbers have fallen sharply in recent decades.

Supporting breeding waders

Breeding waders need three things:

• Enough suitable habitat across the wider landscape;
• Habitat managed appropriately for nesting and breeding; and
• Effective predator management to reduce losses of eggs and chicks.

One of the gaps identified by those involved in wader recovery was the need for practical predator management guidance tailored to breeding waders.

Following discussions between BASC and Working for Waders, an application was made to the BASC Wildlife Fund to support the development of this guidance, which was published in 2025.

The guidance is available on the Working for Waders and can also be accessed through the Four Seasons campaign.

Practical guidance for land managers

By funding the development of this guidance, BASC has helped Working for Waders produce a practical resource for farmers, gamekeepers, conservationists and land managers making decisions about predator management.

The guidance recognises that successful conservation depends on approaches suited to local landscapes, species requirements and legal responsibilities.

It brings together lethal and non-lethal methods, including habitat design, nest-protection fencing, diversionary feeding and species-specific predator control. It also provides practical advice on managing foxes, corvids, mustelids and other predators.

The partnership between BASC, the BASC Wildlife Fund and Working for Waders shows how organisations can combine expertise to give people the tools and knowledge needed to support wader recovery.

BASC has supported Working for Waders since it was established in 2017. We are proud of the partnerships between conservation projects, landowners and gamekeepers that continue to support wader recovery work across Scotland.

Visit the Working for Waders website for further information and resources.

About Working for Waders

Working for Waders is a Scotland-wide partnership bringing together farmers, crofters, gamekeepers, conservation organisations, land managers and government agencies to help reverse the decline of breeding waders.

Established in 2017, the partnership supports practical conservation work across a range of habitats and landscapes. Its focus is on measures that improve breeding success for species such as curlew, lapwing, redshank and golden plover. These measures include habitat management, monitoring and predator control where appropriate.

Ian Danby

Ian Danby is BASC's head of biodiversity and collaborates with the Non-native Species Secretariat to help minimise the threats to UK wildlife from invasive non-native species.