Priority Species Spotlight: Redshank
They’re loud and distinctive – yet Redshanks are becoming a rarer sight. Here’s how we’re helping.
Conservation StatusAmber(Birds of Conservation Concern)
Population StatusDeclining
Main threatsHabitat loss, climate change, disturbance, predation
Get to know Redshanks
The muddy colour palette of the Common Redshank’s plumage makes this wading bird right at home on the UK’s saltmarshes and estuaries. Its carrot-orange legs and bill, however, are a little less subtle.
Each winter, tens of thousands of these distinctive birds flock to our coastlines, escaping colder climes further north and east. Their slender beaks allow them to delicately probe for a banquet of invertebrates hidden within the gloopy mud and shallow water.
Although they’re present in smaller numbers during spring and summer, they can be found in a wider range of habitats. Look out for a Redshank perched on top of rocks or fence posts on saltmarshes, wet grasslands, and upland farmland. From their vantage point, they keep a watchful eye over their chicks – downy puffballs of camouflage with disproportionately long legs, taking wobbly stilt-like strides as soon as they hatch.
Sound the alarm
It’s not just the Redshank’s orange accents that might attract your attention. Nicknamed the sentinel or warden of the marshes, Redshanks are always on high alert. They’re often the first birds to make their panicked alarm call at the presence of a predator – or an innocent birdwatcher!
Why are Redshanks in trouble?
Despite being one of our most familiar wading birds, the UK’s breeding Redshank population has crashed by 45% across the UK between 1995 and 2023. Their range has contracted, too which means breeding birds are found in fewer locations than they were previously.
But what’s causing these devastating declines? Well, while adult survival rates are stable, the breeding success of these wading birds has fallen dramatically. To diagnose the issues, we need to take a closer look at what’s happening on their breeding habitats – typically saltmarshes, lowland wet grasslands including machair, and upland farmland.
The way we use our land, and in particular the way we farm our landscape, has a huge impact on these birds. Redshanks need some areas of taller vegetation where they can nest and take cover from predators, but they also need open and wet areas to forage. Grazing – both too much and too little – and draining water from landscapes affects these birds’ breeding success.
Along with the repurposing of land, habitats are also being lost to ‘coastal squeeze’. As sea levels rise, saltmarshes are eroded away, and so the habitats that Redshanks are dependent on are disappearing.
The number of extreme weather events is increasing due to our changing climate. Prolonged periods of wet weather and larger tides mean more flooding, and unfortunately for Redshanks, this can result in washed-out nests. On the other hand, overly dry springs and summers aren’t good either, making their invertebrate food harder to come by.
As well as being prime feeding and breeding spots for birds, our coastlines are popular places for people, too. Although evidence is limited, recreational disturbance – including dog walking – poses a risk for Redshanks raising chicks.
Habitat loss puts Redshanks at higher risk from predators. They’re restricted to breeding on a small, and increasingly isolated, number of sites, which makes their eggs and chicks an easier target.
How is the RSPB helping Redshanks?
Protecting and restoring habitats
On our wetland nature reserves we’re giving breeding Redshank the ideal conditions they need to thrive. That means keeping wetlands wet, managing vegetation through grazing and cutting, and guarding against predators so Redshanks can raise their chicks in safety.
We’re also constantly trialling different approaches, including varied styles of grazing and blocking creeks on saltmarshes to help hold water. Once the methods are tried and tested, and we know what works best, we implement them across our reserves.
Along with managing our existing land well, we also take action to secure new habitats to compensate for coastal squeeze.
Policy and advocacy
It’s no good if wading birds are only successful on nature reserves – to create a sustainable population, we need the wider landscape to benefit them too. Many nature-friendly farmers are already leading the way, but their work is only possible with appropriate funding and support. That’s why we campaign for appropriate nature-friendly farming policy.
We also advocate to make sure those places designated for Redshanks are protected and are managed effectively.
Advice
Using our science-led expertise in habitat management, we produce guidance for other landowners on best practice for saltmarsh and wet grassland management, benefitting Redshanks and other wading birds.
Research
Our world-leading Centre for Conservation Science is researching the causes and impacts of increased numbers of predators in the landscape, and the effects on nest and chick predation.
We’re taking a look at why it’s happening, and the different ways we can help give Redshank chicks a chance.
Is there anything I can do to help Redshanks?
- Keep a safe distance
Human disturbance is a growing problem for Redshanks. Breeding birds leave eggs or chicks unattended when they respond to a perceived threat, while in winter they waste precious energy if flushed from feeding and roosting areas. Keep your distance and keep dogs on a short lead when visiting habitats that hold these birds. - Record your sightings
Seen Redshanks? Add your sighting to BirdTrack – every record adds valuable data that can help us target conservation work. - Volunteer
Volunteering on an RSPB nature reserve can be a great way to get outdoors, meet like-minded people and give back to nature. Some of our nature reserves are looking for Work Party volunteers, which is an opportunity to get involved in habitat management that can benefit birds like Redshanks. - Campaign with us
Together with our members and supporters, we have over a century’s worth of campaigning history. From emailing your MP to attending marches, you can help to keep the pressure on politicians to secure the Redshank’s future in different ways, from nature-friendly farming funding to legal protections. You can find out about ways to get involved here. - Nature-friendly farming
If you manage land with breeding Redshank on then you can find our guidance here. - Become a member of the RSPB
Join the RSPB, and you’ll support on-the-ground habitat management, world-leading research and policy-changing campaigning every single day. You’ll get access to 170 nature reserves around the UK – some where you can see your support for Redshanks in action – plus a quarterly magazine to keep you up to date with the latest conservation news.
Taking species on a journey to recovery
Helping species to reach a healthy conservation status is a journey. Each journey is tailored to the species in question, but shares four stages:
1. DiagnosisIdentifying there's a problem, and researching to find out what's causing it
2. Testing solutionsDeveloping practical solutions and trialling them to make sure they work
3. RecoveryProviding these solutions across the whole range of the species
4. Long-term legacyReaching improved conservation status and securing a long-term legacy for the species’ recovery
Testing solutions
Our work to help Redshanks is at the Testing Solutions stage of the recovery curve. During this stage, we identify which conservation actions will help a species to recover. We’ve made great progress, but there’s still lots of work to do to help these wonderful waders to recover.
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Thank you!
Our work for Redshanks is made possible thanks to the generous and ongoing support of RSPB members and supporters, as well as Action for Birds in England, a partnership between the RSPB and Natural England, and the EU Life Programme.
We’d also like to say thank you to our dedicated volunteers, who donate their time and skills to protecting and restoring habitats.