The Humber Estuary is an internationally important area for birds; recognised by its designation as a European Special Protection Area, a Special Area of Conservation and a Ramsar site. During the winter the Estuary is a vital feeding and roosting area for over 100,000 migrating wildfowl and waders. Our knowledge of how these birds use the Humber is limited and we are poorly equipped to ensure that we can maintain the natural quality and value of the Estuary. 

HWRG is focussed on the conservation of wading birds on the Humber Estuary. These populations are under threat through habitat loss and degradation as a result of development and other human activity on or close to the inter-tidal feeding and terrestrial and wetland roosting habitats that are so important. The UK plays a major role in providing migration and wintering sites for these birds, many of which link us to Europe and Africa through the East Atlantic flyway. A number of these species such as Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit are Red Listed Birds of Conservation Concern as well as UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species. Indeed the Curlew may be the most important bird conservation priority in the country as the UK is the third most important country in the world for this species. The population has declined by 48% since the 1990s and it has been classified as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.