Wintering birds on the coast

NFDOG has partnered with a range of coastal nature groups, to draw attention to bird life and the need for walkers, especially those with dogs (and other users), to allow them space. Please do enjoy the coast with your dog - but be aware of the issues and take care. This article has been written to explain the issues by Pete Durnell of the Hampshire County Council Countryside Service, and Keith Metcalf, Wings 'Wildlife Vision' Spokesperson. 

Wintering birds like Brent Geese and many species of wader have been settling in along the Solent at the Keyhaven nature reserves over the past few weeks.

After their arduous journey from Arctic Siberia, Dark-bellied Brent Geese will have lost a lot of body weight having flown about 2,300 miles (5,300km) to reach our Solent shores. They are particularly vulnerable just after arriving from their tundra breeding grounds but remain at risk to disturbance for the whole period they spend here during the winter months.

When you see flocks of Brent you may have noticed that there are often one or two sentinels watching over the flock for predators (including us humans).

If most of the flock have their heads held high or they start walking away from you, then you are too close for their comfort. If this happens, the most likely scenario is they will take flight. This might be an impressive sight, but continued disturbance uses up their energy resources and prevents the birds from feeding.

It is much the same for smaller waders. If you are too close, they will fly away, wasting energy and valuable feeding time.

Brent Geese 'alert' ready to fly as walkers get too close

Disturbance can be caused by low-flying aircraft, microlites, helicopters, uncontrolled dogs, paddleboarders, small boats and kayaks, with kite-surfers probably at the top of the list of bird scarers. Other more relaxed activities like; bird watching, cycling, fishing or simply walking can also cause disturbance if undertaken too close to birds. Any activity which causes a species to alter its natural behaviour could be deemed disturbance.

We are often completely unaware of the disturbance we cause, but having recognised this, the Hurst & Keyhaven Nature Reserve Coastal Forum members, which include over twenty organisations and local authorities, have been working in partnership to address these concerns. The Coastal Forum has been able to secure sufficient funding promises to commission several new colourful advisory and informative signs that will be installed next year (2025). As well as wintering birds these will cover our diminishing ground-nesting birds on Hurst Spit and the surrounding saltmarsh.

Hopefully, all users who see the new signage messages will take heed and try to avoid disturbing the wildlife.

One suggestion that could be considered at Hurst Spit is to try to guide walkers away from the most vulnerable bird places e.g. if wishing to walk dogs off-lead, why not exercise them on the outer beach along the Solent shoreline away from the vegetated shingle on the leeward side of the Spit. Most birds wintering and ground-nesting use the leeward side of the Spit. By giving those areas a wide berth, everyone will be helping local nature recover.