On 3 June, BirdEyes researchers released the first group of captive-bred Black-tailed Godwit chicks into a herb-rich meadow in Súdwest-Fryslân as an experiment. Further releases continued throughout June, marking a major milestone in the Godwit Chick Survival Project, which aims to understand why so few chicks survive to adulthood.
Understanding why chicks struggle
Every spring, Black-tailed Godwit chicks hatch in the grasslands of Fryslân and leave the nest within hours. Guided by instinct and their parents, they immediately begin searching for insects. Despite this remarkable start, most chicks die within their first weeks of life. As a result, the Dutch breeding population continues to decline. TTo understand how food availability and predation shape chick survival, BirdEyes launched the Godwit Chick Survival Project, with Jos Hooijmeijer serving as project leader.
Giving researchers a rare opportunity
Studying young godwits in the wild is extremely difficult. Soon after hatching, the chicks disappear into dense vegetation and become almost impossible to follow. Therefore, researchers collected eggs from nests in areas without effective protection and incubated them at Vogelpark Avifauna in Alphen aan den Rijn. Once the chicks became strong enough, the team returned them to Fryslân and released them into experimental enclosures across differently managed meadows. During each trial, researchers measured insect quality and weighed the chicks before and after release. This approach allowed them to monitor chick growth from the very beginning under conditions that closely resembled the wild.
A young Black-tailed Godwit searches for food in the wetlands of Fryslân. Video @ Simon Vandepitte
Looking ahead
“By combining information on food availability and predation, we hope to understand what contributes most to the poor survival of Black-tailed Godwit chicks and how we can improve their chances.” — Jos Hooijmeijer
