The Oystercatcher

This book reviews what is known about the behaviour and population ecology of a popular shorebird, from a scientific conservation perspective. The plight of this bird highlights the many conflicts of interest in coastal zones, between human activities such as shellfishing, land reclamation, and industrial pollution, and the needs of wildlife for food and suitable habitats. The authors suggest that field studies of individual behaviour can be used to predict how populations will respond to environmental changes, and that their findings can play a useful role in coastal management schemes.