Plovers once nested around most of the English coastline but have since disappeared from many of their previous breeding sites. Their preference for low-lying coastal habitats are also areas that happen to be popular for recreation, and as a ground-nesting bird, the Ringed Plover is particularly vulnerable to disturbance. Here the authors explore this problem at Snettisham in Norfolk, and highlight the significance of their findings for Ringed Plover conservation.
The Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula is a familiar bird, widely distributed on muddy, sandy and shingle shores throughout the year. It is on the Red List of the birds of conservation concern in the UK, and in England has disappeared from many former breeding sites.