What they like

Open, wet grassland with peace and a clear view. Think: species-rich meadow, ditch banks full of life, shallow wet patches in spring. Leave a corner of your yard or park pleasantly messy: taller grass, damp edges, not a tidy golf-course look. Farmers: mow later, use mosaic management, leave some areas unmown. And make space for shallow water/muddy patches where chicks can forage.

Ecological importance

The godwit is the true barometer of living farmland. It probes with its bill for earthworms and insect larvae in soft soil, and chicks feed on small insects. Fewer insects means fewer godwits. Foxes and buzzards take eggs and chicks; enough cover and food helps them survive.

When in the Netherlands

Mostly from February/March through July to breed. In autumn and winter you’ll also see passage migrants and overwintering birds, especially in wet polders and along the water.

Status

Threatened as a breeding bird in the Netherlands. Declining due to drying out, early mowing and food-poor grassland.