Endangered Lapwing Bird Back in Northern Ireland Farm After 5 Years of Bog Rehab, Eradication of Invasives

The endangered lapwing bird returned to a farm in Northern Ireland after five years of work, which involved the successful eradication of invasive species, and bog rehabilitation.

Two Breeding Lapwing Pairs on a North Ireland Farm

At the Lecale Fens special area of protection, just outside of Downpatrick, two breeding pairs of endangered lapwing birds have been observed for the first time in years.

The bird is a priority species for Northern Ireland and is red-listed on the Irish list of birds of conservation concern.

Ulster Wildlife's efforts in collaboration with local farmer John Crea led to the breakthrough.

Because of the loss of wetland habitat and modifications in farming methods, the number of lapwings has decreased during the past 40 years.

Successful Bog Rehab

A variety of habitats are needed for the bird to reproduce, but it prefers open, bog-like places with bare ground or sparse vegetation and avoids areas with heavy cover.

Innovative responses

Since 2018, Ulster Wildlife has been employing amphibious machinery in collaboration with the farmer, specialized contractors, and invasive species to remove scrub from Lecale Fens, including rhododendron.

Conservation efforts have been going on for five years, according to Ulster Wildlife's Simon Gray, a peatland conservation officer.

Gray claims that in the past, the region was maintained by grazing or burning to prevent vegetation from overtaking and drying out the fen, but due to climate issues related to peat burning and risks to animals from deep water, the farm had to come up with new and imaginative methods.

Gray and his team are happy that Lecale Fens is returning to a healthy state after their restoration efforts five years later are paying off for biodiversity.

Gray predicted that the modifications would have an impact on other types of fauna, including dragonflies, snipe, and silver hook moths.

Crea expressed his happiness at the sight of the lapwing returning to his farm and flourishing so well. He expects the birds to return the next year to breed again.

In order to rehabilitate large-scale regions of degraded peatland as well as designated peatland habitats, Ulster Wildlife collaborates with landowners throughout Northern Ireland.

The goal is to assist in restoring the wide variety of species that once called these places home, as well as the numerous advantages peatlands offer, such as carbon sequestration and flood avoidance.

With over 75% of Northern Ireland's land being used for agriculture, Gray continued, farmers and landowners must have the support they need to help reinvigorate nature on a landscape scale, with peatland sites like these playing a crucial role in addressing nature and climate issues.

Endangered Lapwing Bird Species

This relative of the lapwing is a critically endangered breed in Kazakhstan and spends the winters in eastern Africa is a relatively infrequent traveler to Britain and Ireland.

The lapwing is a huge wader (shorebird) that is attractive and striking and has a long, wispy crest. It is comparatively widespread in open environments, including marshes, grasslands, and farmlands, as well as locally on coastal mudflats. declining in certain locations as a result of changing land use. From the end of summer to the beginning of winter, flocks of several hundred or more form locally.

It has boldly patterned plumage appears black and white overall, yet in favorable light, the back has green sheen. When mating, it descends deeply and flies with deep, fairly floppy wingbeats. Unlike most waders, it has wingtips that are noticeably large and rounded.