- Latin title: Limosa limosa
- IUCN standing: Near Threatened
- Global inhabitants:
- The estimated international inhabitants is between 614,000-809,000 people.[1] In Europe, the inhabitants is estimated to quantity 102,000-149,000 pairs (together with 25,000 pairs in Iceland)[2]
- Migration Route: The godwit breeds from Iceland throughout Europe and Siberia to components of Central Asia. It has a various migration sample spanning the Indian subcontinent, Australia, West Africa, and components of Western Europe.
Description
- Wingspan: Approximately 70-80 cm
- Life span: Up to twenty years
- Distinct options: Long, straight invoice, lengthy neck and legs, white rump, and black tail. During the breeding season, the male boasts a wealthy brick-red coloration, whereas the feminine reveals a extra delicate pink tone. During winter, each are brownish gray.
- Favourite meals: Insects, crustaceans, molluscs, and small fish present in wetlands
- Top Speed: Capable of reaching speeds as much as 95 km/h throughout migration
- Habitat: Breeds in moist grasslands and meadows, and winters in coastal estuaries, mudflats, and lagoons
The Black-tailed Godwit, identified for its spectacular long-distance migrations, breeds throughout Northwestern Europe, together with nations like The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Poland. During winter, these elegant birds journey southward, discovering refuge in Southern Europe (such because the Iberian Peninsula, Greece, and the Black Sea coast) in addition to North and sub-Saharan Africa. Notably, Icelandic and nominate godwits exhibit separate migration routes.
Sadly, the chook inhabitants continues to say no. Human actions pose vital threats to their existence. Wetland drainage, agricultural adjustments, and fertilizer use endanger their habitats, whereas air pollution, local weather change, and livestock grazing additional exacerbate the challenges they face. Globally, the Black-tailed Godwit is assessed as near-threatened resulting from habitat loss and degradation. Efforts to safeguard their habitats throughout breeding and migration are essential for his or her long-term survival.
To bolster the restoration of the Black-tailed Godwit, the ChickenLife Partnership spearheads a multifaceted conservation effort. This consists of safeguarding essential habitats, advocating for insurance policies to handle threats, and conducting analysis to boost our understanding and conservation methods for this species.
Given that agriculture poses a big risk to the godwit, we’re diligently collaborating with companions throughout Europe to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU’s farming subsidies system. Currently, this method incentivizes farm dimension over environmental stewardship. We are advocating for a coverage overhaul to make sure a harmonious coexistence between nature and farming.
The Black-tailed Godwit holds a particular place within the coronary heart of Vogelbescherming Nederland, our Dutch Partner, as it’s their nationwide chook. 85% of the European godwits breed within the Netherlands. The nation’s expansive dairy trade poses a big risk to the chook’s survival. Through their “Save the Rich Meadow” marketing campaign, our Partner advocates for improved agricultural insurance policies and promote nature-friendly dairy merchandise. They additionally set up core areas for meadow birds, conduct very important analysis, and collaborate with farmers to showcase sustainable practices.
We additionally work tirelessly to guard important habitats for the godwit outdoors of the Netherlands. Thanks to the vigorous advocacy of our Partner search engine optimization/ChickenLife Spain the long-lasting Doñana wetland, which was going through nice dangers of utterly drying up, has now an opportunity to be reborn. Following a joint settlement between the Spanish and Andalusian governments final November, harmful agricultural practices round this UNESCO Heritage web site will hopefully stop. The enlargement of irrigable land surrounding the wetland might be halted, making certain its preservation for future generations.
Similarly, our Portuguese Partner SPEA has been actively opposing a mission to increase the Lisbon Airport, which threatens the Tagus estuary, the nation’s very important wetland and a vital stopover web site for migratory birds, together with the Black-tailed Godwit. SPEA, alongside seven different Portuguese NGOs, has filed a court docket motion with the Lisbon Administrative Court.
Our Partners play a pivotal function in knowledge assortment on the godwit’s standing and take part within the International Waterbird Census, an annual winter rely organized by Wetlands International throughout 143 nations. Together with NABU (ChickenLife Germany), RSPB (ChickenLife UK), VBN (ChickenLife Netherlands), and SOF (ChickenLife Sweden), now we have compiled the International Multi-Species Action Plan for the Conservation of Breeding Waders in Wet Grassland Habitats in Europe.
Check out this video to hearken to their distinctive sound!
No want for a comfy nest
Black-tailed godwits lay their eggs immediately on the bottom amidst the grass of moist meadows. While this adaptation aligns with their pure setting, it additionally exposes them to dangers. Predators like foxes, martens, and huge birds pose a risk to their vulnerable nests. Agricultural actions corresponding to mowing may be very harmful, and cautious timing of those actions is crucial for the survival of the godwit’s eggs and chicks.
Mud detectives
The invoice of the Black-tailed godwit is lengthy, slender, and barely upturned, good for probing the muddy floor of their moist grassland habitat. The tip is especially delicate, permitting the godwit to detect prey beneath the floor of the mud, even with out with the ability to see them. This allows them to forage effectively, even within the deeper layers of mud. Additionally, the invoice is powerful sufficient to dig by way of the muddy floor however versatile sufficient to know prey with out damaging it.
[1] Wetlands International 2016
[2] ChickenLife International 2024, Species factsheet: Limosa limosa
