About Waders

What is a ‘wader’?

The term ‘wader’ is generally used to describe wading birds or shorebirds that refer to the eclectic birds housed within the sub-order Charadrii.

Waders can typically be found at the seashore and costal areas, as well as inland wetlands, marshlands and other lowlands and waterways. They are migratory and will undertake long journeys twice a year – normally in the meteorological spring and autumn of the northern and southern hemispheres – to feed and find suitable courting and breeding grounds.

Why are ‘waders’ important?

Waders perform an essential role in maintaining their environments and habitats, which has benefits to the health and wellbeing of other flora and fauna in the immediate ecosystem, including humans that live in the vicinity.

Waders perform a predator role in their habitats, feeding on insects, larvae, snails, and small crustaceans, controlling levels that would increase if not otherwise kept in check. They particularly predate mosquito larvae, which helps the long-term controlling and prevention of mosquito-born diseases including malaria and West Nile virus, both of which are on the increase in areas not previously seen a result of climate change.

Waders also perform habitat building and maintenance roles as seed dispersers and fertilisers. This helps maintain the health of their habitats enabling growth and diversification of wild plants, which in turn support natural carbon capture and storage through plant photosynthesis.

What can be done to support ‘waders’?

There are national and international initiatives to monitor and support conservation efforts to protect waders and their habitats, from multinational organisations to community groups. Read more about some of these in our Wader Conservation section, or in our quarterly newsletters and at some of our events – join as a Wader Quest member to hear more before everyone else.

What can I do?

Firstly, become a member of Wader Quest and show your commitment to supporting conservation activities. Your membership enables us to support conservation activities in the UK and around the world; to provide a voice on matters relating to the birds, their habitats, and their wider environment; and, to provide practical solutions and support to policy makers when it comes to matters impacting waders.

Provide a local voice in support of waders – write to your MP or other local representative at a local, regional, or national level; or add your name to a petition. Wader Quest runs petitions and calls to action in our attempts to influence government and local policies in the favour of waders and their habitats.

Go out and enjoy looking for and watching waders in their natural habitats. Find a place local to you that have had reports of waders visiting and spend some time in nature. Please make sure that you are respectful of the waders, and keep dogs close by on leads if taking your dog, and make sure you clear up after yourself when leaving.