The breeding population of Northern Lapwing in Switzerland declined by 78% from 1993–1996 to 2005–2008

Numbers and distribution of Northern Lapwings breeding in Switzerland have undergone strong fluctuations over the last 150 years. In the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century a decline to about 180 breeding pairs was noted. In the 1940s numbers started to increase again, when Lapwings began to nest on arable land. In the 1970s the population reached a peak with 1000 breeding pairs. In the 1980s a decline was observed again, which accelerated since the 1990s. In the most recent survey 2005–2008 only about 100 pairs (83–116) were found. This amounts to a decline of 78 % since the last national survey 1993–1996, carried out for the national distribution atlas. The number of 100 km2 squares occupied by Lapwings declined from 20.1 % to 6.6 % in the same period. In several regions Lapwings have completely disappeared. The decline was strongest in agricultural areas.

Source: Sattler, T., E. Rey & H. Schmid (2009): Distribution and population trend of Northern Lapwings Vanellus vanellus in Switzerland 2005–2008. Ornithol. Beob. 106: 263–274.