The sensitivity of breeding Golden PloversPluvialis apricariato human intruders

The anxious calling (alarming) used by Golden Plovers when they are guarding their chicks has been exploited to determine the distance at which they are sensitive to human intruders. On average, they reacted at a distance of 164 paces, approximately 187 m, though there was a significant difference in this distance between two study sites. There was also a modest difference with the stage through the chick-rearing period. Their sensitivity at such distances suggests that there may be an extensive zone around well-used footpaths which they would be reluctant to occupy for breeding