Diurnal Use of an Airfield and Adjacent Agricultural Habitats By Lapwings Vanellus vanellus

• Published in: The Journal of applied ecology 1985-08, Vol.22 (2), p.313-326
• Main Authors: Milsom, T. P., Holditch, R. S., Rochard, J. B. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agroecology; Aircraft; Airports; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grasses; Habitat preferences; Habitat selection; Plows; Stubble; Vanellus vanellus; Vertebrata; Wildlife habitats
• ISSN: 0021-8901; 1365-2664
• DOI: 10.2307/2403166

(1) Lapwings occur on many airfields in the United Kingdom, often in large numbers, and are frequently struck by aircraft. However, little is known about the species' usage of airfields. Accordingly, the habitat preferences of lapwings on an airfield and surrounding farmland were studied between breeding seasons. (2) The birds used a variety of grassland, arable and airfield habitats, but showed a marked preference for one or two at any one time. In order of use, the preferred habitats were plough, broken concrete and frequently mown grassland, of which the last mentioned was selected for longest. Not only were the preferred habitats always occupied at the highest densities, but usually by the greatest number of birds as well. (3) The birds' usage of plots was correlated not only with the nature of the ground habitat, but also with the openness of the plot boundary and plot area. The relative importance of these factors varied seasonally. (4) The airfield was very attractive to lapwings throughout the study. This was due, at least in part, to the open nature of the airfield landscape and the presence of frequently mown grassland. The relevance of these findings to other airfields is discussed. (5) It is suggested that the cultivation of long grass, combined with bird scaring, offers the best solution to the lapwing problem on airfields at present.