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| Black on black - dog has designs on this carrion crow |
A COASTAL ranger and wildlife officer has appealed to dog-owners not to allow their pets to run at the flocks of shorebirds that spend autumn and winter on the estuary, beach and saltmarsh in Cleethorpes, northern Lincolnshire.
Says Josh Forrester: "I routinely monitor recreational disturbance along our coast and have unfortunately witnessed recent incidents where scores of birds were being chased."
The Humber Estuary is a Special Protection Area and home to species such as curlew, redshank and knot which are all in decline.
Although they are seldom caught by canines, disturbance reduces their feeding time and depletes their energy.
In fairness, most dog-owners are responsible. They know that disturbing birds - preventing them from feeding or roosting, or causing them to take flight - is a criminal offence and can lead to prosecution under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations.
Water-sports enthusiasts, such as jet-skiers and paddleboard-users, are are also urged to stay away from the saltmarsh and sand banks - especially areas accommodating large congregations of birds.
The memo also applies to birders who sometimes approach too close in their eagerness to snatch close-up photographs.
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| Danger beckons - the shorebirds in the foreground doubtless know it will soon be their turn to be chased |
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| A handsome beast - but dogs off the lead spell danger for saltmarsh birds such as egrets, redshank and snipe |
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