The Northumberland Wildlife Trust and Dogs Trust are urging dog owners to keep their pets on leads when visiting nature reserves to protect vulnerable ground-nesting birds during their breeding season. From February to August, many migratory species, such as skylarks, lapwings, and nightjars, arrive in the area to nest. Unsupervised dogs can disturb these birds, causing them to abandon their nests, which could lead to harm.
In particular, the Northumberland Wildlife Trust has raised concerns about dogs chasing birds at the Annstead Dunes reserve, located south of Seahouses. Breeding birds like reed buntings, meadow pipits, and stonechats are particularly at risk in this area.
Duncan Hutt, Director of Conservation at Northumberland Wildlife Trust, who is also a dog owner, emphasized the importance of keeping dogs on leads in these areas. “Whether there’s livestock, waterfowl, or ground-nesting birds, the lead is essential for every responsible dog owner,” he said. Hutt acknowledged the joy dogs bring to nature walks but stressed the need to protect wildlife, especially given the severe decline of various species in the UK.
The Trust is urging dog owners to be mindful of their pets’ impact on wildlife, especially during the critical breeding period. Keeping dogs on leads ensures that they do not inadvertently harm or disrupt the delicate balance of nature.