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The breeding distribution ranges from the arctic as far south as Brittany. In the British Isles they nest on shingle beaches and increasingly inland. Increases in the human population has lead to an increase in leisure activities along beaches, making nests and small chicks vulnerable to human disturbance. |
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We began a study in 1994 to investigate the effects of human disturbance on the breeding
population at Snettisham and Heacham beaches, on the eastern side of the
Wash estuary, in England. You can view a location
map of the study area. The number of pairs breeding is 60 – 65
pairs.
Over 200 adults have been trapped at the nest during the mid to late incubation period using walk in traps or spring nets, all have been ringed and colour ringed, as have over 900 ringed plover chicks. They have been ringed with a standard BTO metal ring plus a combination of four other colour rings. |
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Photo supplied by John Webb |
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| What identifies the bird as one ringed by North West Norfolk Ringing Group is the scheme identifier which is either a yellow or red ring above the 'knee joint' on the tibia of the right leg. On the tarsus below the ‘knee’, birds have a colour over metal ring on one leg and 2 colours on the other leg. The colours that have been used are yellow, red, lime green, green, pale blue, blue, black (noir) and white. | |
| Photo supplied by David & Pat Wileman | Photo supplied by Mikael Champion |
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| Red scheme marker ring on right leg tibia | Yellow scheme marker ring on right leg tibia |
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If you see any colour ringed birds please note the position of any colour rings and also the BTO metal ring. Please pay particular attention to the tibia of the right leg and the presence or absence of the yellow or red scheme identifier ring. Include details of date seen and where (if possible include grid ref or co-ordinates.) and send the details to the scheme co-ordinator John Middleton. E-Mail HERE. and we will send you full details of the birds life history. |
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Photo © John Middleton |
This is a typical Ringed Plover nest. It is simply a shallow depression or 'scrape' made by the adults. The shell fragments that you see are frequently used to line the nest. The number of fragments that are used differs from nest to nest, with some containing little or none and others containing many. |
Photo © John Middleton |
Newly hatched Ringed Plover chicks only remain in the nest until they have dried off and are strong enough to stand and begin to move around. The time varies from just a few hours to a day, but most have left the nest within 24 hours. Thereafter they do not return to it and instead they are brooded from time to time wherever they happen to be by either of the parents. They can find food and feed themselves as soon as they are able to walk. |
| Results so far show that the main causes of nest failure are predation 22%, trampling by humans 10% and desertion 8%. Some pairs have been known to attempt nesting on no less than five occasions in a breeding season. |
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At one time the Wash population of Ringed Plovers were thought to be mainly sedentary. This ringing study by the North West Norfolk Ringing Group has indicated that the breeding population at Snettisham/Heacham on the east Wash winter in west and south west Britain and Eire, and also in France as far south as 46-09N 01-15W. However there have also been several recoveries from northern England, on both the north-west and north-east coasts and in Scotland. The map shows the distribution of recoveries and colour ring sightings of Ringed Plovers from Snettisham and Heacham. The unusual recovery in Norway is of a bird which was passing through our study area on migration to it's arctic breeding grounds and is not part of the Snettisham breeding population. It was seen again in Norfolk in January two years after it was seen in Norway and was back in Norway by July the same year. |
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| In year 2000 this study also became a British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Retrapping Adults for Survival (RAS) project . Currently it is the only RAS study of Ringed Plovers in the UK. The objective is to gather re-trap information which will allow us to monitor the survival rates. Information on survival rates is important because it can help us to understand why bird populations may be changing . Knowing about changes in survival rates of birds is vital for effective conservation action. Additionally every year we find and monitor the outcome of many nesting attempts and these results are recorded using methodology developed by the BTO Nest Records Unit. |
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