Numbers and distribution of Northern Lapwings breeding in Switzerland have undergone strong fluctuations over the last 150 years. In the 19^th and at the beginning of the 20^th century a decline to about 180 breeding pairs was noted. In the 1940s numbers started to increase again, when Lapwings began to nest on arable land. In the 1970s the population reached a peak with 1000 breeding pairs. In the 1980s a decline was observed again, which accelerated since the 1990s. In the most recent survey 2005-2008 only about 100 pairs (83-116) were found. This amounts to a decline of 78 % since the last national survey 1993-1996, carried out for the national distribution atlas. The number of 100 km² squares occupied by Lapwings declined from 20.1 % to 6.6 % in the same period. In several regions Lapwings have completely disappeared. The decline was strongest in agricultural areas. The proportion of breeding pairs on arable land amounted to 41-54 % versus 30-38 % in wetlands. Breeding attempts on flat roofs have increased since 2000, making up 11-21 % in 2005-2008. Breeding success of Lapwings in Switzerland has been low since at least the 1960s and the Swiss breeding population relied on recruits from abroad. As the Lapwing populations across Europe have shown a decline, it has to be assumed that the number of recruits has declined and is unlikely to increase in the near future. Measures to increase breeding success are essential to prevent the complete disappearance of the Lapwing in Switzerland.