Abstract
1. The Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) is a Near Threatened species on the IUCN list. The main threat to the population is changes in agricultural lands, the main breeding location for the Lapwing.
2. In Switzerland, the Lapwing has been noted breeding on green roofs. Lapwings have produced successful fledglings on roofs, but there is still a concern that the roofs are ecological traps. As a precocial species, chicks are solely reliant on resources available on the roofs.
3. Through analysis of data collected across Switzerland since 2011, I have shown that roof sites are not ecological traps and that (1) Lapwing chicks do fledge on roof tops, (2) substantially more eggs hatch on roofs than on the ground, (3) fledglings per hatched clutch are lower on roof locations, and (4) fledglings per breeding pair on roof sites is not significantly different than ground.
4. Support in terms of habitat improvement, provisioning of water and shelter, and research should be continued of roof top sites to promote the Northern Lapwing population.
