Effects of disturbance on shorebirds: A summary of existing knowledge from the Dutch Wadden Sea and Delta area

The extent to which shorebirds are disturbed by various activities is discussed, with reference to studies carried out on the Wadden Sea and Delta area. The effects of leisure activities on foraging and roosting birds are discussed. The effects of small airplanes, jets and helicopters are also considered, as are the effects of disturbance on food intake and behaviour of territorial birds. Frequent disturbance may force waders to abandon traditional high-tide roosts. The implications of disturbance on energy are not yet clear but indicate that the effects can be larger than would appear from the studies described.