Farmers and RSPB NI join forces to boost breeding wader recovery in the Antrim Hills

Lapwing nest in the Antrim Hills

The 2025 breeding season has delivered a significant boost for some of Northern Ireland’s most threatened wading birds, thanks to a close partnership between RSPB NI, local farmers and landowners across the Antrim Hills.

RSPB NI staff and volunteers have spent recent months surveying, protecting and monitoring key species across a number of sites, working hand-in-hand with the agricultural community to improve habitat conditions and give vulnerable birds the best chance of survival.

Lapwing and Snipe Populations Rebound

Lapwings recorded their strongest year since 2017, with 32 pairs found across monitored sites and at least 26 chicks successfully fledging. Conservation staff attribute this progress to farmers installing Lapwing fallow plots, which provide safe and suitable nesting areas.

Lapwing nest in the Antrim Hills

Stephen Magennis, RSPB NI Conservation Officer 

Snipe numbers also showed notable improvement. After a dip in 2024, this year’s surveys identified an impressive 243 pairs across the Antrim Hills — a rise of just over 20 per cent. The rebound is seen as clear evidence of the increasing benefits of targeted habitat management.

Stephen Magennis, RSPB NI Conservation Officer for the local area, welcomed the results.

“The 2025 breeding season in Glenwherry was a great success for breeding waders. For the fifth year, we’ve worked with over 100 supportive farmers to help Curlew, Lapwing, and Snipe recovery through land access and habitat management.

“We’re looking forward to next year, where we’ll expand into Glencloy with three new Monitoring Officers. However, we can’t ignore that nature is in trouble, we risk losing some of our most iconic birds, but it is only with help of our farmers, and support from DAERA, like this, we can continue to turn things around.”

Encouraging Progress for Rapidly Declining Curlew

Curlew chicks hatching

Curlew chicks hatching with Slemish in the distance

Curlew — one of Northern Ireland’s most rapidly declining bird species — also enjoyed an encouraging season. In Glenwherry, 45 pairs were recorded. Of these, 21 nests were located and 18 were protected using temporary predator-proof fencing.

The breeding effort resulted in 41 chicks, equating to a sustainable productivity figure of 0.91.

Local farmer James Bonnar, who has been working alongside RSPB NI, said the return of Curlew is now a much-anticipated sight.

“Every year we look forward to seeing the Curlew returning to our fields, the noise over the last five years has become infectious with more and more Curlew returning every year. It’s wonderful to see all the hard work that is being put into these birds and long may it continue.”

Farming Community Driving Conservation Success

Lapwing in the Antrim Hills

Across the Antrim Hills, farmers are implementing a range of habitat management measures to support breeding waders. These include:

• Fallow plots to offer secure nesting sites

• Rush control to open up suitable foraging grounds

• Creation of wet features to provide essential feeding habitat

Many of these actions are funded through agri-environment schemes and further supported by the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) Group Project, which provides ongoing advice through RSPB NI advisors.

Field team workers in the Antrim Hills

The combined efforts are helping restore priority habitats and enrich biodiversity across the landscape. With continued support from the farming community, RSPB NI is optimistic about further growth in wader populations in the years ahead.

More information about RSPB NI’s work, and ways to support bird conservation across Northern Ireland, can be found at the charity’s website.