even hedgehogs and reptiles can pose a significant threat to eggs and chicks alike.
Recently it was discovered that surprisingly, some herbivores also predate nests. There are examples of sheep eating Curlew eggs in the UK and in New Zealand deer have been found to be a threat to the Critically Endangered Southern Red-breasted Plover.
Feral and introduced species have posed a threat to ground nesting birds since the days of discovery when cats, dogs and rats were transported around the world, deliberately or inadvertently to places where the birds had not developed a means by which they could cope with the new threat. Many of the extinctions that have occurred, especially among ground nesting birds, have been as a result of these introductions. Well-meaning people will often feed these feral populations, especially cats, whilst not appreciating the dreadful toll these animals take on their wild neighbours.
The hunting of waders used to be widespread, but in recent, more enlightened times most wader species are off the quarry list. Those that remain on the list are legally sought such as Woodcocks, Snipes and some Plovers. The rules on what is legitimate quarry vary depending on where you happen to be. A bird may be protected on one side of a national border, but not on the other once it has crossed. It is however unlikely that this legal sport hunting is having a drastic impact on populations although common sense would suggest that if a species is in decline it seems to be an unnecessary pressure to keep shooting them for pure sport.
Illegal sport hunting is also a threat in some areas. The Mediterranean region is a dangerous place for migrants, especially those passing through Malta, Cyprus and Lebanon. Traditional and cultural reasons are usually cited as an excuse for this destruction. Although legislation is in place to stop this, monitoring and prosecuting are both difficult and costly to achieve.
Rather more difficult to deal with is subsistence hunting, where people are hunting birds for the pot. The alternative is not a Big Mac and fries or a trip to the supermarket, the alternative is hunger. It is in these situations that conservation needs to deal with the underlying poverty before it can address the hunting issue. This has been done with some success in Bangladesh and Myanmar where hunting was a threat to the Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
The primary pollutants are sediment, fertilisers, pesticides, plastics, salinity, heavy metals, weeds, poorly oxygenated water and altered pH levels.
Even if the flow of a river is not altered in some unnatural way, causing pollution by sediments, direct pollution and changes to the chemical make-up of the water can occur. This happens especially where the water course receives water run-off from urban areas, run off from farmland (which includes grazing stock), or direct use of the water for flushing or cooling chemical treatment and sewage. This change in the water can be obvious with a reduction of the clarity of the water but much of it is unseen and undetected.
Although not an obvious source of pollution deforestation can affect the component parts of the water with increased sediment due to erosion and loss of water clarity. These higher deposits can increase saltmarsh build up, but the quality of the water, often poorly oxygenisated, may affect wader prey species or reduce the nitrogen uptake by microorganisms in the water and mud.
Recently it has become apparent that our over use of plastic, combined with careless and irresponsible disposal and a lack of recycling is causing one of the biggest pollution problems ever faced worldwide, especially in our seas and along our coasts.
Further pollution risks come from accidental spillages at sea and into water courses, illegal dumping and tank flushing and mining activities.
Much of the disturbance caused to waders is as a result of people partaking in recreational activities. Beaches are much favoured as playgrounds where quad bikes and other vehicles are driven and parked. Other activities such as dog walking (especially if do