THE DECLINE OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE SOMERSET LEVELS AND MOORS, ENGLAND AND CHANGES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF WATER LEVELS

A recent decline in populations of breeding waders, wintering waterfow l and whimbrel Numenius phaeopus on spring passage at the Somerset Lev els and Moors, England is described. Some of these populations had bee n assigned international and national importance. Studies of the distr ibution of breeding waders show the importance of high water tables an d associated low-intensity grassland management techniques. There has been a long-term decline in the water levels maintained by the pumps a nd sluices which are controlled by the Drainage Boards. Nature conserv ation efforts directed at safeguarding this site, together with paymen ts to landowners to modify farming practice, have failed to maintain t he bird populations because suitable water management regimes for wild fowl and waders have not been sufficiently encouraged.