Springtime brings with it the arrival of many migratory bird species, who travel thousands of miles to nest on nature reserves across the country. These birds are particularly vulnerable to disturbance between February and August.
Keeping dogs close by will help ensure that ground-nesting birds such as skylarks, lapwings, and nightingales are not harmed during the breeding season. Unsupervised dogs can cause birds to abandon their nests, so it’s vital that they are kept close by and under control.
Interactions between people and nature at this time of year can have long-lasting effects, and a significant impact on the breeding success and survival rates of the birds.