Breeding Season 2025: Between Successes and Challenges

The 2025 breeding season in the LIFE Limicodra project presents a mixed picture: while high breeding densities were recorded in some areas, extreme weather conditions and predation led to significant losses elsewhere. The results highlight both the importance of targeted conservation measures and the ongoing challenges in meadow bird protection.

Diverse project areas – different conditions

The project areas extend along the Western Pomeranian coast, from the Greifswald Bay via the Peene River and Achterwasser to the coastal meadows south of the Szczecin Lagoon.

These habitats differ significantly: in the northern areas, freely flooded coastal salt marshes predominate, whereas in the southern areas (polders), water levels can be actively regulated. The aim is to develop and test effective conservation strategies for breeding waders in both coastal and inland wet grassland habitats.

Northern areas: Good settlement – high losses

In the coastal areas, the breeding season began as early as mid-March with lapwings establishing territories, followed by redshanks and other species. Cold, dry and windy weather led to frequent territory shifts and significantly hampered breeding conditions.

While relatively favourable conditions were created in the Freesendorfer Wiesen and on the Struck through consistent predator management, breeding success remained low in other areas. In the Pastorwiesen and on the Großer Wotig, high predation pressure and insufficient control prevented successful breeding.

A major issue was the lack of food for chicks, as hardly any insects were available due to the weather conditions. This resulted in considerable losses, particularly among lapwing chicks.

Nevertheless, positive developments were also recorded:

• Chicks of 15 ringed plover, 24 lapwings, 18 redshanks and 25 avocets were ringed.
• On the Struck, 5 lapwing and 5 redshank breeding pairs produced a total of 21 fledged young.
• In the Freesendorfer Wiesen, the breeding population remained stable with 28 lapwing, 15 redshank and 5 ringed plover pairs, alongside successful chick rearing. Notably, nests were more evenly distributed across the area, indicating effective predator management.
• Avocets initially showed high hatching success.

Source specification: Paul Rößler

On 5 July 2025, a major flooding event most likely resulted in the loss of all avocet chicks as well as part of the late lapwing broods.

Southern areas: High breeding densities – challenging rearing conditions

In the polders of the southern areas, the breeding season also started early. Initially, many species benefited from favourable water levels following a relatively wet winter. However, from April onwards, an exceptional drought led to water and food shortages.

Despite these conditions, the Mönkebude polder recorded remarkable success: A thermal drone survey identified 78 nests, including 55 lapwing, 14 redshank and 9 black-tailed godwit nests.

Source specification: Tobias Dahms

Initial successes were also observed in other polders. For example, targeted protective fencing provided temporary safe breeding conditions for individual pairs.

However, overall breeding success remained below expectations. In addition to food shortages, predation—particularly by foxes within protected areas—played a significant role in chick losses.

Conclusion: Measures are effective – external factors remain decisive

The 2025 breeding season clearly demonstrates that the measures implemented within the LIFE Limicodra project—such as water level management, nest protection and predator control—are effective in enabling high breeding densities. At the same time, actual breeding success remains strongly influenced by external factors such as weather conditions, food availability and predation pressure.

In the coming years, the focus will therefore remain on optimising habitat conditions, further strengthening predator management and stabilising suitable breeding areas to support the long-term development of viable meadow bird populations.