What they like

Wind in the feathers and water nearby. Beaches, harbours, large lakes, rivers. And a short grassy patch where you can see it prancing. Give it a hand: leave banks a bit messy. Reed and willow scrub along ditches and ponds. In parks or yards: mow with breaks, leave areas uncut. In the countryside: herb-rich margins along fields, don’t tidy up wet corners.

Ecological importance

A cleaner with taste. Eats insects, earthworms, small fish and crustaceans. Also takes scraps, but it’s no “trash bird”: it helps keep the system clean and quickly switches to what’s available. Chicks and eggs are prey for foxes and gulls; calm and space make a difference.

When in the Netherlands

All year round. In winter often many more from northern Europe. Breeds mainly in the north and along large bodies of water.

Status

Common, but breeding populations are under pressure from disturbance and a lack of safe nesting sites. Quiet islets and banks without hassle: worth their weight in gold.