Plovers in Peril: protecting Norfolk's Ringed Plovers

With their long legs, oversized feet and pom-pom shaped bodies, tiny Ringed Plover chicks are heart-meltingly cute, but the beaches they call home can be full of dangers. Read on to discover the threats they face and find out how we’re helping more precious chicks make it to adulthood on the north-west Norfolk coast. 

Unlike many birds, Ringed Plover parents don’t build their nests in trees or bushes. Instead, they head for the beach and lay their perfectly camouflaged eggs directly on the sand or shingle. It’s a brilliant way to keep them hidden from the prying eyes of hungry predators, but this clever camouflage makes the eggs vulnerable to being trampled under the feet of unsuspecting walkers.  

If the eggs get through the 25-day incubation period unscathed, any chicks that hatch will have to navigate a steady stream of sunbathers, picnickers and dog walkers as they find their feet (and feathers). It’s a pretty daunting prospect when you’re barely bigger than a ping-pong ball!  

When confronted by anything they perceive as a threat – whether it’s a hungry gull, curious dog or approaching human – the chicks will freeze, hunker down and rely on their fantastic camouflage to help them blend into their surroundings. Although it’s a great tactic to avoid becoming lunch, it’s not so good for avoiding oncoming feet and paws – sometimes with devastating consequences.

If you visit one of the Ringed Plovers’ nesting beaches during the breeding season, you’ll no doubt hear the frantic alarm calls of frazzled parents trying their best to keep their family out of trouble – something human mums and dads can no doubt relate to! In fact, Ringed Plovers are incredibly doting parents, carefully protecting their eggs and chicks from biting winds, pouring rain and blazing sun. They will even feign a broken wing to try to lure predators away from their flightless young.  

But with more visitors and their furry friends flocking to beaches, increased coastal development, and climate change-induced sea level rise and extreme weather, these plucky little birds are being pushed to their limits.  

Across the UK, Ringed Plovers declined by 37% between 1984 and 2007 and they now feature on the Red List of birds we’re most worried about. In Norfolk, a key breeding area, the picture was even worse. Plover numbers plummeted here by a staggering 77% in 35 years, with just 123 pairs recorded in 2018. 

In 2021, in response to these worrying declines, we launched Plovers in Peril – a partnership project with Wild Ken Hill to help Ringed Plovers raise their families safely on a stretch of beach between Snettisham and Heacham. This project has been made possible by funding from the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. Natural England, the EU LIFE Programme via the RSPB-led LIFE on the Edge project, and the Paul Bassham Trust have also provided generous funding. Thanks to the support we’ve received so far, this important project will run until 2026, and we’re working hard to secure further funding so that we can protect these birds for years to come.   

“Before we started the project there was no protection for the birds on the beach at all, and they were clinging on by a thread” says Wynona Legg, Plovers in Peril Project Officer.

Together with a dedicated team of volunteers, project staff monitor the nesting Ringed Plovers every day during the nesting season, fence off vulnerable nesting areas and engage with visitors and the local community to help raise awareness of the Ringed Plovers’ plight.  

“Volunteers really are the backbone of this project – we simply couldn’t do it without them” explains Wynona. “So far, we’ve built a fantastic team of more than 50 volunteers (and counting) who dedicate around 2,000 hours each season to protecting these birds. They’re out on the beach in all weathers, speaking to beach goers, helping them to spot these secretive birds and inspiring them to take a few small actions to help the Ringed Plovers raise their families successfully.”  

One volunteer shared their experience of being part of the Plovers in Peril project: "Volunteering as a beach ranger gave me the opportunity to help wildlife in trouble on my doorstep. With so much news about wildlife declines in the media it was good to actively play a part in raising awareness of a declining species, and one that everybody using the beaches can help to protect." 

Ringed Plovers might be little birds, but they have big personalities and they’ve long been capturing the hearts of visitors and the local community alike. Through the project we’ve helped to nurture that connection and grow a sense of stewardship, so that they will be protected for years to come.  

“It’s been incredibly moving to see so many people within the local community taking pride in the wildlife that makes this coast so special, taking action to help it thrive and actively inspiring others to do the same.” says Wynona. “And the fantastic results we’ve achieved so far are a real testament to what people can achieve when they come together for nature”. 

Thanks to the hard work of RSPB staff and volunteers, as well as the support of visitors and local people, the Ringed Plover population here is bouncing back. In 2024, a record-breaking 71 Ringed Plover chicks successfully fledged from safeguarded nesting sites between Snettisham and Heacham. That was a huge 273% increase from the 19 chicks fledged in 2021, when the Plovers in Peril project first launched.  

As a result of conservation efforts like these across Norfolk, the Ringed Plover population is starting to show early signs of recovery. At a time when nature is in crisis, these fantastic results are inspiring proof of the collective power of people to save struggling species.  

“I’m often asked what my favourite part of this job is” says Wynona “and it’s such a hard question to answer! Ringed Plovers are the most amazing birds to get to know and I feel so privileged to be able to follow their lives through the season, from egg to fledgling, and watch as the chicks grow bigger and stronger, despite all the challenges they face. It’s a real emotional rollercoaster, but the biggest reward after all the ‘will they/won’t they make it’ worry is the moment you watch a young chick discover its wings and take its first flights. It never fails to spark joy!” 

“For me though, this project goes beyond the birds. It’s also about bringing people together and seeing the joy that nature can bring to our lives. We’ve had volunteers join the team as complete strangers who’ve become the best of friends, and others who’ve found a renewed sense of purpose after going through hard times.  

“Seeing people from across the local community and further afield come together to protect these vulnerable birds is so inspiring and we would like to thank everyone who has played a part in the success of this project – whether that’s through volunteering or simply being mindful of the birds while visiting the beach. Everyone has a part to play in helping beach nesting birds bounce back.”  

By following these simple steps during beach visits in nesting season (March to the end of August) you’ll help Ringed Plover chicks graduate from fluffball to fledgling. 

If you’re feeling inspired and have a few hours to spare between March and August, we’d love to hear from you! To find out more about volunteering on the Plovers in Peril project, please get in touch for a chat at ploversinperil@rspb.org.uk