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· the extent to which dogs off the lead actually cause disturbance to ground nesting species

· the rationale behind a blanket ban on dogs off the lead at certain times of the year

In support of the line of argument taken, this paper charts:

· the recent breeding success of five typical ground nesting species (Woodlark, Nightjar, Lapwing, Redshank and Curlew) that are thought to be susceptible to disturbance by dogs, and of the Dartford Warbler, a species that, whilst not strictly a ground nesting bird, is characteristic of the open heaths of the New Forest and which, it has also been alleged, is at risk from dogs. Comparisons are made with breeding populations of the same species in other parts of Hampshire and in the United Kingdom as a whole.

· a 'way forward' for the protection of susceptible ground nesting birds under increasing threat from recreational disturbance of all kinds.

References to Dog Disturbance in Literature

To my knowledge, the first reference in literature to dogs off the lead was made in 1986 by Colin R. Tubbs (The New Naturalist 'The New Forest'). In his final chapter, 'The Way Ahead', Tubbs lists a number of external threats on the Forest, including nearby urban growth, inflow of commuters, widespread erosion by horse riders, wear and tear around car parks and camp sites and "too many dogs". The precise reference was to "uncontrolled dogs" and to the "worry to stock and deer."

He made further reference to the New Forest being under threat from recreational disturbance in his paper entitled "Breeding Waders in the New Forest, Hampshire in 1993-1994" (reproduced in the Hampshire Bird Report 1994). In this he makes specific mention of the breeding population of waders being threatened by "the large number of dogs exercised in the Forest."

The late Colin Tubbs was an eminent scientist, naturalist and conservationist for whom there was considerable respect and if his instinct, let alone his research, suggested that "the problem demands more attention from the Forest managers than it is at present given", then it indeed warrants such attention. To my knowledge, Tubbs did not cite any examples where dogs off the lead caused loss of eggs or chicks or, alone, contributed to the desertion of nests or to birds not prospecting what would be considered suitable breeding sites. Again, as far as I am aware, there has been no systematic study since.

Why a total ban on dogs off the lead in the New Forest at certain times of the year?

It seems incredulous that consideration should be given to introducing such sweeping and draconian measures as the restriction of dogs to short leads in the New Forest during the breeding months when roughly 45% of the New Forest is not suitable breeding habitat for those species most often cited as being at threat from dog disturbance. Moreover, dogs off the lead are not necessarily 'out of control'. Most local residents are acutely aware of the importance of the Forest to wildlife and that the ancient woodlands, heaths and mires are now rare habitats of international significance. Most would welcome the fact that conservation is now a priority over commercialism, be that tourism or timber production. I suspect that most responsible dog handlers would support effective conservation proposals but would argue that in sensitive areas dogs are less of a disturbance, or at least no more of a disturbance, than ramblers, horse-riders or, indeed, well-intentioned ornithologists! NFDOG unanimously supports restrictions that would provide effective conservation.

Ground nesting birds of the New Forest - Passerine

It is puzzling that if dogs are the cause of disturbance to ground nesting birds, or are one of the major causes of disturbance, at least three species (Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Nightjar) should have increased their breeding population levels within the Forest over the past ten years. Forestry Commission figures show significant increases in walkers and therefore, presumably, dog walkers over the same period.

Dartford Warbler is not a ground nesting species but it is prone to disturbance given its propensity to nesting low down in heather and gorse. Whilst subject to many fluctuations (it was almost wiped out following the severe winter of 1963) it has increased its breeding population since the 1974 Survey, conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology, when a total of 203 pairs was registered in 80% of suitable habitat. In 1994, 514 territories were located in the New Forest, representing 31% of the population in the UK and a survey of one third of suitable habitat in 1999 produced a total of 205 territories giving an extrapolated total of 615 breeding pairs on the heaths of the New Forest. Milder winters and effective management have contributed to this success story. Interestingly, Dartford Warblers appear to be breaking out of their traditional breeding grounds. For example, two pairs successfully reared young this spring, nesting in bramble on reclaimed land at Calshot; land that has never been 'managed' and that is frequently visited by dogs, even more so this year given the foot and mouth restrictions in the Forest!

A more typical ground nesting bird is the Woodlark and again the provision of good habitat, in this case through the maintaining of traditional commoning, has led to an increase in its status in the New Forest, although the picture is less clear cut than with Dartford Warbler. Woodlark numbers in Hampshire stood at 284 pairs in 1997, of which 177 pairs were found in the New Forest. In the 1986 Survey of Woodlark, carried out by the British Trust for Ornithology, the figures were 70 and 50 respectively, which suggests a proportionately larger increase over the intervening eleven years at sites outside of the Forest. This would be in line with the increase in the country as a whole where the 1997 Survey run jointly by the BTO, RSPB and English Nature found "a staggering 1500 territories" (Gillings and Wotton). The 1999 New Forest count of 55-60 pairs was thought to "reflect a lack of coverage rather than a reduction in numbers as coverage during the breeding season was patchy." (Hampshire Bird Report 1999) My own impression is that the Woodlark continues to prosper in the New Forest where the habitat is suitable even in areas of heavy disturbance from walkers, with or without dogs off the lead.

The Nightjar is to be nationally surveyed in 2002. The ploughing of ancient heaths, encroaching buildings and recreational pressures have taken their toll of this crepuscular species and there has been a restriction in its range in north-west and northern Europe since at least 1950. Yet, in the 1981 Nightjar Survey, 93 pairs were recorded in the New Forest with an extrapolated estimate of 200-250 pairs, whilst a similar estimate was given for 1999, so there is no suggestion of a change for the worse over the past twenty years in this species' fortunes. Rex Haney (Birds of Britain Website) woke up before dawn at his campsite in mid-May that year (1999) "to hear the long, seemingly endless churring call of Nightjars all round us".

An action plan, drawn up by the European Wildlife Division of the Department of the Environment and aimed at increasing the range of the species and the number of churring males in Britain, focuses on the importance of 'protecting, maintaining, restoring and re-establishing lowland heath and associated foraging habitats". The preamble to the plan acknowledges that the dramatic reduction during the course of this century is due to "agricultural land claim, afforestation and building development" and also makes reference to climatic change. No where is raised the scepter of recreational disturbance or, more specifically, dog disturbance. It would seem that given suitable habitat (cleared blocks of forestry plantation) the Nightjar has the wherewithal to cope with other pressures, including dog walkers.

Ground nesting birds of the New Forest - Waders

The Lapwing is one of three waders that has declined as a breeding species in the New Forest in recent years but so too has it in Hampshire and the United Kingdom as a whole. A partial survey of the New Forest in 1981 by Tubbs gave an estimate of 250-450 pairs; by 1994 this estimate had fallen, alarmingly, to 85-86 pairs. No figures have been made available since, although the 'feeling' is one of continued decline. Three coastal sites in Hampshire, which are managed and where there is a restriction on dogs, on and off the lead, experienced similar fortunes in the 1990's. On the Farlington Marsh Nature Reserve, 32-38 pairs bred in 1996 but only 25 pairs in 1999, with as few as five young raised. At Normandy Farm there has been a 40% decline over the same period, whilst at Needs Ore a fall from 57 pairs in 1992 to 26 pairs in 1996 (reporting procedures change thereafter making further comparisons impractical) makes for depressing reading.

The Cumbria Bird Club printed an article in its 1999 Report on the 'effects of climate changes' in which the author wrote of "a reduction in food sources with ground nesting and insectivorous birds being particularly hard hit" and "of Lapwings being displaced from parts of Southern and Eastern England by the warmer and drier conditions that are likely to prevail within that area over the next thirty years."

It is a well established fact that the demise of the Red-backed Shrike as a breeding bird in the New Forest was as a consequence of subtle climatic changes at critical times within its breeding cycle rather than undue disturbance or destruction of suitable habitat. Although still largely a matter for debate, the impact of changes in the climate will affect some species in the UK and, more specifically, in the New Forest, positively or otherwise.

Taverner in 1972 (A Revised List of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Birds) referred to a decrease in the breeding population of Redshank in the New Forest over the previous 30 years. This can hardly be attributed to dog disturbance! In 1966 there was estimated 90 breeding pairs of Redshank in the New Forest. Numbers rose in the late seventies with between 105-140 registered in 1981 but a decline set in from the late eighties and it is unlikely that many more than 50 pairs bred in 1999. And the story is similar elsewhere.

"Numbers in Langstone Harbour continued their downward trend from the peak of 60 pairs in 1986, this attributable to heavy predation by foxes early in the season and then gulls and crows" (Hampshire Bird Report 1993).

"In theTitchfield/Cheriton area of Upper Itchen Valley (a former stronghold) a deliberate search revealed only 3 or 4 single birds" (Hampshire Bird Report 1995).

"A survey in the Avon Valley in 1996 revealed 63-65 pairs compared with 110 or so in 1990" (Hampshire Bird Report 1996). Jonathan Cox who orchestrated the Avon Valley Breeding Wader Survey in 1966 wrote of a 'clear decline' over the six years of both Lapwing and Redshank and attributed it to changes in drainage management, field enclosure and land-use changes, lessons to be learned in the New Forest! Again, no reference was made to recreational disturbance generally, let alone to dog disturbance specifically.

Paradoxically, numbers appear to have held over the past ten years at coastal sites, with Pitts Deep/Hurst the exception where numbers have crashed from 46 breeding pairs in 1993 to 9 breeding pairs in 1999.

Tubbs's findings from his survey of the New Forest in 1993 and 1994 showed a marked decline in the breeding populations of Lapwing and a less dramatic decline in the breeding populations of Redshank. He acknowledged, however, that both the 1993 and 1994 surveys were "methodologically flawed" and that any evidence for the disturbance and/ or the loss of eggs or chicks of wader species to dogs was "circumstantial". Again, I can find no literature that provides empirical evidence that dogs off the lead has resulted in the loss of eggs, chicks or has caused ground nesting birds to forsake otherwise suitable breeding terrain. The fact that this summer "Curlews had begun nesting on heath in the Sway area" (Colonel Peter Sweet) can be attributed to many other factors and may be purely coincidental with foot and mouth restrictions closing large tracts of the Forest to all users.

From the late 1960's Curlew expanded its breeding population on the heaths of the New Forest and between 1981-84 Tubbs recorded 120 breeding pairs. It was thought to be at the same level in 1993 (Hampshire Bird Report 1993) but there has been no meaningful data from the New Forest since.

A Way Forward

It is the expressed wish of NFDOG and I suspect of the vast majority of residents who own dogs and who wish to walk them off the lead in the New Forest to support initiatives to protect ground nesting birds. One such initiative, suggested by Kevin Hughes at the NFDOG meeting at Lyndhurst on 3rd July 2001, is the zoning of sensitive sites during the breeding season from which all recreational interests would be precluded. The most sensitive sites would seem to be the wet heaths and mires, habitat suitable for wader species such as Lapwing and Redshank which are in decline both locally and nationally. The Forestry Commission has already identified several sensitive sites on both dry and wet heath and requested that dog owners keep their pets on the lead. NFDOG is happy to comply with these measures but restrictions should apply to all users, rather than just focusing on dog owners, if the measure is to be effective.

Conclusions

· Although the question of dog disturbance is mentioned in literature as one of a number of potential threats, recreational and otherwise, to the breeding population of ground nesting birds, there is not one shred of evidence that dogs off the lead, but under control, have had any adverse effect on the success or otherwise of six typical New Forest ground nesting species of bird.

· The ground nesting birds cited are found almost exclusively on the open heaths and mires of the New Forest and to impose a restriction on all parts of the Forest would be an unnecessarily sweeping response and would alienate residents with dogs who would otherwise support conservation measures.

· The breeding success of Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Nightjar over the past decade would suggest that with effective land management, the right climatic conditions and an element of good fortune, ground nesting birds are capable of holding their own in suitable habitat irrespective of the level of disturbance from dogs, horse-riders or casual walkers.

· The decline in the breeding populations of waders, especially Lapwing and Redshank, is mirrored in other parts of Hampshire and nationally where recreational disturbance is not considered an issue but where changes in land use and/or ineffective or inappropriate land management and climate changes are considered pertinent.

· Dog owners would support the concept of zoning sensitive sites and in particular wet heath and mires in an effort to halt the decline in the number of breeding waders but feel that to be effective such preclusion should apply to all recreational interests.

References

Clark M. J. & Eyre J. (1993) Birds of Hampshire. Hampshire Ornithological Society

Cohen E. & Taverner J. H. (1972) A Revised List of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Birds
Oxford Illustrated Press

Cumbria Bird Club Report 1999

Hampshire Bird Reports 1993 - 1999

New Forest SAC Management Plan 2001

Snook A. M. (1998) Birds of the New Forest: A Visitor's Guide. Centurion Books,
Fordingbridge

Tubbs C.R. & Tubbs J.M. (1994) Breeding Waders in the New Forest, Hampshire, in
1993 & 1994. Hampshire Bird Report 1994

Tubbs C.R. (1986) The New Forest. New Naturalist Series. Collins. London.

Philip F. Fawkes
August 2001

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