Habitat selection of breeding Wood Sandpipers Tringa glareola in Scotland

ABSTRACTCapsule The European breeding population of the Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola is estimated to be stable, but the species has declined in several countries. Describing breeding habitat requirements is important for the conservation and management of the breeding sites.Aims To determine the habitats used by breeding Wood Sandpipers.Methods Two breeding sites of Wood Sandpipers in Highland Scotland were visited regularly during spring and summer in 2006 and 2007; habitat variables were measured at points where birds were detected and compared with random points.Results The birds selected sites with a greater percentage of water cover, bare ground and Carex spp., but with a low index of total obscurity of vegetation.Conclusion By selecting habitat with bare ground, low obscurity of vegetation and shallow water, birds may have sufficient concealment from predators, but also maintain vigilance and obtain good feeding opportunities for themselves and their chicks. AcknowledgementsThe Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) made this project possible by providing financial support. I thank R. Summers for his comments on the manuscript and help with statistical analysis, and K. Chisholm for her invaluable help with all the logistics of the project. The owners of the local estates gave their support and permission to conduct this project on their land.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).