Spot the birdie . . . it's important

The RSPB is conducting a survey this month to ask the public to look out for lapwings. Well if you had ventured to Wolvercote farmers' market last Sunday there was one lapwing you couldn't have failed to spot.

It was a 14ft inflatable lapwing next to the organic produce, drawing attention to the society's important Lapwing Landscape survey in Oxfordshire which continues until May. The birds do have a distinctive appearance, but for Drew McVey, the RSPB's Lapwing Landscape Project Officer, thought the public should not have difficulty identifying them. He felt the inflatable lapwing would remind us of their appearance as well as the importance of the survey.

We are being encouraged to help the society find out just how our the native lapwing population is faring, as their numbers have declined rapidly since the 1980s. The last survey, undertaken nationwide in 2003, showed that breeding pairs had halved since 1982.

While it is generally agreed that there are more than 20 difference species of lapwing throughout the world, it is the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), often known as the Peewit or Green Plover, that we are looking for. The name Peewit comes from the bird's shrill two-note pee-wit call.

Drew admits that, occasionally, the Sociable Lapwing ventures to our shores, but while it may be tempting to think that was the species on view at the Wolvercote market, it lacks the vibrant colour that makes the Northern Lapwing so distinctive.

An adult Northern lapwing is about 30cm long with a 67-72cm wingspan. It is the shortest legged of the species, with distinctive white underparts and black markings under the wings, below the throat and the head, which, when observed closely, will reveal the upper parts as a beautiful iridescent dark green and purple. The legs are pink and the under-tail coverts are an attractive orange-brown. The females have less strongly marked heads.

If you fail to see its colours or spot the beautiful black crown, its flight pattern is highly distinctive, too - a remarkably slow wing beat that really doesn't appear fast enough to keep them aloft, yet it does. Its name is in fact derived from the lapping sound of its wings.

In spring, this magnificent bird puts on the most amazing aerobatic displays, comprising a crazed, zigzagging flight combined with rolls and spectacular dives.

The lapwing prefers to nest on the ground and has even been known to find a spot on newly ploughed areas. The nest is a shallow hollow created in an open area - a meadow or marshland - or anywhere that there is bare ground and damp areas for the chicks to feed. That said, it must not be too damp. Chicks can die from excessive rain or by being exposed to long grasses moistened by a recent rainfall.

Drew says even though lapwings can have up to seven clutches of eggs, the last clutches raised in late summer when the grass has grown long, rarely survive if the grass is wet.

The eggs can certainly survive from human predators longer than most, however, as their smooth, non-glossy eggs with their creamy buff-stone hue are difficult to spot when laid on stoney open ground.

Their main predators are sharp-sighted crows. When there is a large colony of lapwings nesting close to one another they can band together and keep the crows away. Unfortunately, larger pockets of land are in short supply which means that forming a large colony is difficult. Without the protection of others the nests are more vulnerable to attack.

When humans approach the nest the lapwing usually runs away in an atttempt to lead the invader away.

The chicks, which are incubated by both parents, feed on invertebrates such as earthworms, beetles, flies and caterpillars that live on the surface.

Most British lapwings are resident, though some migrate westwards to Ireland, while others fly south to France and Spain.

One of the main reasons for the lapwing's decline is modern farming. Autumn sowing results in crops being far too tall for the lapwings when they are ready to nest. Fortunately, Oxfordshire's river valley grasslands and surrounding arable farmland are locations that still have healthy numbers.

Drew says that the response from farmers has been positive.

"The RSPB's Lapwing Landscapes project has been working with farmers in the river valleys to help these birds, so we have a good idea how many pairs of lapwing occur in the river valleys. We are now interested to find out how they are faring in other areas which is why we need the public's help," he said.

The survey is straightforward and does not take long to complete. It will certainly give you a good reason to take a country walk during the Easter holidays.

For a copy and suggestions on where to look for lapwings you can email the project at lapwing.landscapes@rspb.or.uk or write to RSPB Lapwing LandScapes Survey 2007, RSPB Otmoor Nature Reserve, Beckley, OX3 9UR.

For further information on the RSPB and its work visit its website www.rspb.org.uk