About Waders

What is a ‘wader’?

The term ‘wader’ is synonymous with ‘shorebird’ and is generally used to describe the eclectic birds housed within the sub-orders Charadrii (plovers and allies), Scolopaci (sandpipers and allies) and some members of the Lari (Crab Plover, pratincoles and coursers) .

Waders can be found in many habitats including the seashore and costal areas, as well as inland wetlands, marshland, moorland, mountains, farmland, grassland etc. Some, mainly in the extreme austral and boreal regions of the world, are highly migratory and will undertake long journeys twice a year, normally in the spring and autumn of the northern and southern hemispheres, to feed or find suitable breeding grounds. Others are to be found in the same areas all year round particularly those breeding in the tropical regions of the world.

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.