According to the RSPB over half of England’s most threatened breeding species nest on or near the ground. And the charity says that watching your step when out walking can help protect rare breeding wildlife.

People have been noticing nature much more in recent years with lockdowns making everyone more observant of their surroundings.

Garden birds and other wildlife have helped lift spirits and connect us to the world outside. A recent survey commissioned by the RSPB showed that 41% of participants reported seeing wildlife near their homes that they had never noticed before between 2020 and 2021.

Almost half of the UK population have said they have tried to attract nature to their gardens but the RSPB is keen to highlight that many of our threatened species don’t use gardens and nest boxes when raising young.

Over half of England’s most threatened breeding species nest on or near to the ground, including curlew, little tern, nightjar and lapwing.

“If you ask a child where bird’s nest, they are likely say a tree, hedge or nest box. It’s an image we’ve all grown up with but for some of our most threatened species it’s simply not true. Almost every natural habitat in the English countryside can be home to ground nesting birds and these threatened species are under increasing pressure due habitat loss, predators and climate change. Yet we can all help protect them from disturbance by simply following the Countryside Code and keeping to footpaths,” says communications manager, Sara Humphrey.

In Dorset, even coastal areas can be home to beach-nesting birds; little tern, ringed plover and oystercatcher chicks often make homes hidden in the shingle. You can help by doing the following:

• Keep dogs on a lead while on beaches, particularly in sensitive locations like Chesil Beach. This will increase these birds’ chances of survival. Vulnerable eggs and chicks are easy prey for lots of predators, so dogs running through nesting areas can be very stressful for breeding birds.
• Kayakers or paddleboarders can help to keep nests safe by respecting any warning signage, avoiding landing and keeping well back from important areas. If you see or hear a bird making alarm calls, you are too close and should leave the area. If you’re keen to get back out on the Fleet Lagoon at this time of year, please give the Chesil little tern colony a wide berth.
• Heathland sites are often popular places to walk, cycle, horse ride and picnic. These are often the same places where rare birds like Dartford warbler and nightjar and rare reptiles like sand lizards nest. By keeping to the footpaths and keeping your dog on a short lead you can help to keep nests, chicks and lizard hatchlings safe. Fire risk can also be very high on heathlands, so pack a picnic rather than a BBQ and take any litter home.

As birds nesting on the ground are at higher risk from predators; the nests and eggs they contain are often extremely well camouflaged, making them hard to see and avoid.

“A skylark egg can be as small as 17mm, that’s around the width of a five pence piece,” explains Mike Shurmer, head of species for RSPB England. “And when those eggs hatch, chicks can be just as well camouflaged and vulnerable. When scared, a chick’s instinct is often to stay quiet and avoid detection, so if you see an adult bird calling out in distress or trying to catch your attention, back away carefully to help protect nests from harm.”

The RSPB’s conservation scientists have developed methods to help protect nesting birds from environmental threats including climate change, wildfire and sea level rise, which can be delivered through managing landscapes for wildlife. They have seen fantastic results for species including roseate tern and stone curlew, but to protect ground-nesting birds across the countryside, everyone can play a part by watching where they step. To find out more, search #WatchYourStep on Twitter or Facebook.

The RSPB works closely with partners and communities to protect wildlife across their network of over 300+ UK nature reserves and in the wider countryside. To find out more about the RSPB visit www.rspb.org.uk