Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
 

National WWT News

Icelandic swan romance results in rare UK cygnets

Posted on 29 July 2011 by WWT Welney

A tragic swan romance has taken a happy turn as a pair of Icelandic whooper swans, hampered by injury, has hatched a healthy brood of cygnets at WWT Welney Wetland Centre, 1,800 kilometres from their usual breeding grounds.

Whooper swans pair for life but a pair dubbed Romeo and Julietta has surprised experts with a startling act of devotion. This year a serious injury left Julietta (ringed DF9) unable to fly the perilous 1,800 kilometres from Welney across the north Atlantic to the safety of remote wetlands in Iceland. Her partner Romeo (ringed DJ4) stayed behind to be with her and breed in the UK.

Each year some whooper swans like Julietta fail to join the annual migration back to Iceland as a result of injury caused by power line collisions. But it is almost unheard of that an injury-free swan should stay behind to be with one that cannot migrate.

It is very rare for a pair to successfully breed in the UK. This is the first time ever that whooper swans have bred at WWT Welney and the first recorded breeding in Norfolk since 1928.

Whooper swan family in front of main observatory Leigh MarshallWhooper swan family in front of main observatory Leigh Marshall

Wetlands such as WWT Welney on the Ouse Washes are a safe place for swans to roost away from predators. In the last 100 years, the amount of inland wetland alone has halved – because of land reclamation, changes to agriculture, pollution, water diversions and other developments. Such losses are catastrophic for wildlife. Scientists blame them for pushing a third of all amphibians, 15% of water birds, over 40% of reptiles, 30% of mammals and 6% of fish species close to extinction.

Leigh Marshall, reserve manager at WWT Welney said:

“Though we love to see this pair throughout the summer, in many ways it is very sad that they’ve stayed in England, while the rest of their population has returned to Iceland to breed. We are really pleased for them that they’ve been able to hatch a brood, despite the odds being stacked against them with Julietta’s injury.

“It’s a remarkable testament to WWT Welney and our visitors that the swans felt that the reserve provided the right conditions to raise a brood. Visitors are coming to see the rare spectacle, but showing the utmost respect”

Swans are at risk from many things; read more about these on our Super whooper pages. From observing Julietta, experts believe that she had a collision with power lines.

Leigh Marshall continues:

“We reckon Julietta’s injury could have been due to a flying collision. Swans are too big to avoid power-lines at the last minute. Injuries and sometimes death can occur from these collisions. Luckily for the swans, UK Power Networks and National Grid have worked with WWT to make their cables more obvious to the birds by using reflective tags or large markers. This is done to reduce the frequency of collisions and is something we hope to continue with in the future”.

UK Power Networks has put extra measures in place to help protect birds from hitting the overhead lines.

Both Romeo and Julietta were ringed at WWT Welney in November 2007. They have nested on the main lagoon in front of the main observatory and have thrilled visitors by proudly displaying their cygnets. As the cygnets grow, the adult swans will take them around the washes to feed and explore their habitat.

WWT works to protect whooper swans and their habitats. WWT Martin Mere, Caerlaverock and Welney Wetland Centres are home to thousands of wintering whooper swans each winter.

WWT tracked the migration of 50 whooper swans to and from Iceland to check that their flights didn’t bring them into conflict with proposed offshore wind farms.

By monitoring the population WWT keeps a check on what needs to be done to protect them. X-rays taken of the swans, when staff catch them for ringing, show that around 13% are living with shot embedded in their tissues – a strong indicator of the level of illegal shooting that continues.

Lead poisoning from ingesting spent gunshot is also a problem. WWT studies have demonstrated that a high proportion of bird have elevated blood lead levels.

**UPDATE 1 AUG 2011: very sadly it appears that Romeo and Julietta now only have one cygnet as the second cygnet has not been seen with the family group today. Whooper swans are very protective and attentive parents so staff at WWT Welney are very hopeful that this second cygnet will continue to thrive at the reserve**

 

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Sussex author talks about new book for young teens

Posted on 29 July 2011 by WWT Arundel

On Tuesday 02 Aug at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre Sussex author Jill Hucklesby will chat about her new book, ‘If I Could Fly’ on Tuesday 2 August at Arundel Wetland Centre. Jill is an award-winning writer for young teens. Her first book, ‘Deeper Than Blue’, won the 1066 Schools’ Book Award in 2008 and was shortlisted for the Bolton Children’s Book Award and the Spellbinding Award in Cumbria in the same year. Her second novel, ‘Last Kiss of the Butterfly,’ was nominated for the Southern Schools’ Book Award.

Jill will speak about her new book, ‘If I Could Fly’, which was published in January this year. With strong themes of friendship, survival and flight from danger, it has been nominated for two national awards – the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Award and the People’s Book Prize. Rich in bird imagery and dreams of flying away, it’s a story told by 13 year old free-runner Calypso Summer, who is on the run from an incident, but her brain has blocked out the memory. With the help of a new friend, Alfie, she finds the courage to remember. But Alfie knows a secret about her situation that will change Caly’s life forever.  Will she ever be able to return home to her mother, Little Bird, and face the challenges of her past?

Jill will talk about ‘If I Could Fly’ and read from the book at 1.30 pm and 3.30 pm. A book signing will follow the readings.

Visit www.jillhucklesby.com and Facebook for more information about Jill.

This event is part of ‘Duck and Swan week’ during the summer long ‘Feathers, Fur and Flight’ event at Arundel Wetland Centre.

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Eytons whistling duck nest

Posted on 29 July 2011 by Phoebe Young @ Slimbridge

Every year it is my job along with the rest of the team to coerce our birds into breeding. We fill up aviaries with prime examples of species and provide all the necessary boxes and habitat to orchestrate the laying of eggs. Whilst these basics are standard, understanding and observing the feelings of the birds in your care is where a true eye for detail comes in.

The Eyton’s have been looking very secretive of late. Their general attitude is one of… making do with their lot. They camp out adjacent the feeding area, monopolise the loafing ground, and certainly dole out retributions quickly and efficiently. Even the white-backed ducks are under their thumb! Whilst they are all the best of friends however they are not at all flirtatious, so it was a complete surprise to me to see both the females looking heavy with eggs. For whistling ducks supposedly in love, they had very little to shout (whistle) about! Looking at the four of them there was no indication of any kind of attachment to believe them capable of breeding, and I had come to assume in my mind that nothing would come of them in 2011. Their gravid rear ends however seemed out to prove me wrong!

It was no surprise a week later to see a huge collection of eggs in the undergrowth, and neither was it a surprise to see how little care had been taken over its creation. The females seemed utterly disinterested in incubating them so they were duly collected into an incubator and candled after 10 days.

Result = Infertile.

Well the good news is that whilst these eggs are infertile the girls certainly do like to lay; clocking up a massive 18 in total between the two of them! The bad news is of course the infertility and the entirely lack-lustre breeding attitude of the boys. The most likely course of action seems to imply shaking it up a bit and getting in a nice new chap for 2012. Whilst many species like repetition and regular routines and refuse to breed at the slightest human interference, others enjoy the fire of a new playmate and allow the disturbance to kick start their breeding regimes. Maybe these girls will ultimately be just such a pair…

Practice, may still make perfect.

Post a comment

07/08/11 Phoebe: Hi Kathy, I will look up a few photos of mutual preening and post them for you. Oddly enough I caught two young juvenile southern-red bills having a joint preen just the other day :)

02/08/11 Kathy Valier: The Eton’s whisling ducks are so striking-looking with those elegant feathers splayed along their sides. One thing I never saw with any of the whistling ducks at Slimbidge was any of the alopreening that I had read whistling ducks are fond of. Maybe it was because of the lack of fondess between the sexes.

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Mother’s blind love for baby cuckoo

Posted on 27 July 2011 by WWT Slimbridge

A juvenile cuckoo

It is one of nature’s cruellest tricks: a tiny bird struggles to feed a large cuckoo believing it is her own.

These incredible images of a reed warbler feeding a baby cuckoo were taken at Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

Cuckoos lay their eggs in other bird’s nests fooling them into believing it is one of their young.

The baby cuckoo, which has a seemingly insatiable appetite, hatches first and then quickly disposes of any competition by kicking any other eggs out of the nest.

Cuckoos are on the decline in the UK so when two pairs of parents arrived at Slimbridge earlier this year staff were hopeful that they would produce some young.

James Lees, the reserve warden who took the photos, said: “I felt very excited when I saw it as I had never seen a baby cuckoo and it was amazing to see the two parents flying around desperately trying to provide it with enough food.

“There was quite a crowd of visitors watching it as it was happening right next to our main playground Welly boot land.

“A cuckoo is about the size of a dove, so it would weigh about five times more than a reed warbler.  They also take twice as long to fledge as a warbler, so these poor parents are stuck feeding them for longer.”

The cuckoo is likely to remain for a few days.  Check our daily wildlife sightings for the latest news: http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/slimbridge/wildlife-sightings

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Skills of the past help protect the future of rare waterbird species

Posted on 26 July 2011 by WWT Washington

Traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge conservation have woven together to help boost rare waterbird populations at WWT Washington.

Owen Joiner and members of Northumbria Basketry Group.Numbers of endangered white-headed ducks hatching at our centre have so far doubled this season, thanks to the Northumbria Basketry Group, whose members created a series of unique ‘nest baskets’ to help protect the eggs of these rare waterbirds.

Species of international importance, including the Hawaiian goose – the world’s rarest goose – the Laysan teal and the globally threatened red-breasted goose, all thrive at WWT Washington, thanks to the knowledge, skills and expertise of our aviculture team.

But some species, such as the endangered white-headed duck, have a lower survival rate than others, so extra assistance is needed to try and boost their chances of success.

White-headed duck eggs in nestbasket.Aviculture manager Owen Joiner explained: “The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust’s conservation breeding programmes are helping to save rare and endangered waterbirds both here in the North East, across the UK and around the globe.

“Many of these species are vulnerable and the young can sometimes have a poor survival rate, so we often try new or unusual techniques to ensure that as many eggs as possible are laid and successfully incubated, to help boost the number of chicks that are produced.

“The nest baskets are a perfect example of this and also of using traditional techniques from the past to help protect the future of an endangered species.”

Made using natural willow and based on a pattern by renowned artist basketmaker Mary Butcher, the nest baskets are designed to provide a secure shell in which the birds can then build their own nests and safely lay their eggs, which may not survive if a nest is badly created or open to predation.

Each nest basket takes a day to make and the project involved a team of 12 from Northumbria Basketry Group, which was founded in 2007 and now has more than 60 members.

Group member Sheila Walton said: ‘We’ve all been saying how good it is to make baskets for such an excellent purpose and we’re delighted play a small part in helping to conserve these beautiful birds.

“We hope to be able to continue to support the Washington Wetland Centre in this way in the future.”

Owen added: “Different waterbird species have different nesting needs and the basketry group worked with the criteria that I gave them brilliantly.

“For example, mallard-related species are fine with a fairly open nest chamber, but smaller species prefer the security of a tunnel, which the basket makers were able to create.

“Also, waders such as little egrets are notoriously bad nest builders, so weaving a nest basket with a lip around the edge is vital, to stop their eggs rolling out.”

White-headed duck.Earlier this summer, the baskets were placed inside the enclosures of a number of WWT Washington’s exotic collection birds. And the basket makers’ hard work paid off, when our five female endangered white-headed ducks – whose numbers have fallen in the wild in the last decade due to habitat loss and hunting – decided to use them, going on to lay a staggering 99 eggs between them.

Owen said: “Many of the 99 eggs that have been laid entered the world in the nest baskets, safe from predators such as magpies and seagulls, so I’d like to say a massive thank you to the group for all their time and hard work.

“Last season we successfully reared 13 white-headed ducklings. We’re currently experiencing a 40% hatch rate and at the moment, we have 25 babies at the nursery, with hopes that this will increase by the end of the hatching season. White-headed ducks are notoriously difficult to rear, so now we have the babies its all hands on deck to rear them to adulthood.”

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Rare flamingo hatch shines spotlight on threat to wild population

Posted on 22 July 2011 by WWT Llanelli

Visitors to WWT National Wetland Centre Wales, Llanelli are in for a special treat over the next few weeks, as the first ever lesser flamingo chick to hatch in captivity in Wales has just been born there.

The current chick, the second ever hatched in captivity, is so young that no photos are currently available. This photo is of ‘Hope’ the first ever to be born in captivity (also by WWT in 2006).

This comes five years after the birth of ‘Hope’ – the first lesser flamingo to hatch in captivity in the UK – at WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. Staff at Slimbridge were stunned last month when a second fertile egg was laid in the lesser flock, but as the other flamingos at the centre had finished breeding for the season, the decision was made to transfer the egg to the later breeding Caribbean flamingos at Llanelli. Flamingos tend to rear chicks in large groups – crèches, and it was thought that this incredibly rare lesser flamingo chick would fare better amongst the group of Caribbean flamingo chicks at WWT Llanelli.

Excitement at the hatch was tempered by news that three quarters of the wild lesser flamingo population in Africa is threatened by industrial development.

In the wild, as in captivity, lesser flamingos’ fastidious nature can hamper their breeding. They only breed well when in large flocks of thousands and are sensitive at nesting stage. It can take as little as a slight change in water level or for something to pass overhead and the birds can abandon their nests. So plans to build a soda ash extraction plant at Lake Natron in Tanzania, where the vast majority of lesser flamingos gather to breed, is alarming conservationists at WWT.

The skills and techniques developed with captive flamingos can pay dividends to wild populations. For example, building artificial nest mounds for wild flamingos has been used with great success at sites in Europe and Africa. Tens of thousands of flamingos have hatched in the wild directly as a result of this technique pioneered in captivity. Conservation breeding programmes also help develop vital skills for re-introduction projects for endangered birds.

Rebecca Lee, WWT Senior Species Conservation Officer and Chair of the IUCN-SSC/Wetlands International Flamingo Specialist Group says: “It’s partly a numbers game. In the wild they breed in very large flocks of tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of birds. Flock density seems to play an important role in encouraging birds to display and initiate nest building. In captivity, it’s well known that flocks of less than 40 flamingos will rarely breed. At WWT we use mirrors to give the birds a sense of a bigger flock.”

Threat to main breeding site

The lesser flamingo is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List – but that situation could change very quickly. At the moment about three-quarters of the global population live in the Great Rift Valley in Africa, and almost all of these breed at only one site – Lake Natron, in Tanzania.

Plans to build a soda ash extraction plant at the lake are placing the future of this critical breeding site under threat. Four years ago, plans for the plant were shelved following worldwide concerns over its environmental impact both from the extraction of soda ash and its associated infrastructure. Commercial industries require soda ash in the production of pharmaceuticals, glassmaking and even making everyday washing powders.

But now the Tanzanian president, Jakaya Kikwete, has revived the plans – which could see 200,000 tonnes of soda ash being extracted from the lake each year – despite his government accepting an award for shelving them at the Nagoya biodiversity summit last year.

Disturbance from the soda ash extraction has been identified as one of the greatest threats to the flamingos’ future survival. The development and associated infrastructure would potentially displace around 75% of the world population of lesser flamingos.

WWT chief executive Martin Spray concluded: “The breeding colony of flamingos on the caustic Lake Natron is truly one of nature’s greatest spectacles and this site has been designated by Tanzania and internationally for its importance to wildlife and people. Lesser flamingos lay only one egg at each attempt – and we know that disturbance can have a marked effect on breeding success. Any changes at Lake Natron could very quickly bring about a catastrophic decline.”

 

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Rare flamingo hatch shines spotlight on threat to wild population

Posted on 22 July 2011 by WWT

Staff at WWT were overjoyed as the second
lesser flamingo ever bred by them in captivity hatched this week.

But the mood was tempered by news that three quarters of the wild population in Africa is threatened by industrial development.

In the wild, as in captivity, lesser flamingos’ fastidious nature can hamper their breeding. They only breed well when in large flocks of thousands and are sensitive at nesting stage.

It can take as little as a slight change in water level or for something to pass overhead and the birds can abandon their nests.

So plans to build a soda ash extraction plant at Lake Natron in Tanzania, where the vast majority of lesser flamingos gather to breed, is alarming conservationists at WWT.

The skills and techniques developed with captive flamingos can pay dividends to wild populations. For example, building artificial nest mounds for wild flamingos has been used with great success at sites in Europe and Africa.

Tens of thousands of flamingos have hatched in the wild directly as a result of this technique pioneered in captivity. Conservation breeding programmes also help develop vital skills for re-introduction projects for endangered birds.

Rebecca Lee, WWT Senior Species Conservation Officer and Chair of the IUCN-SSC/Wetlands International Flamingo Specialist Group says: “It’s partly a numbers game. In the wild they breed in very large flocks of tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of birds. Flock density seems to play an important role in encouraging birds to display and initiate nest building.

“In captivity, it’s well known that flocks of less than 40 flamingos will rarely breed. At WWT we use mirrors to give the birds a sense of a bigger flock.”

Threat to main breeding site

The lesser flamingo is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List – but that situation could change very quickly.

At the moment about three-quarters of the global population live in the Great Rift Valley in Africa, and almost all of these breed at only one site – Lake Natron, in Tanzania.

Plans to build a soda ash extraction plant at the lake are placing the future of this critical breeding site under threat.

Four years ago, plans for the plant were shelved following worldwide concerns over its environmental impact both from the extraction of soda ash and its associated infrastructure.

Commercial industries require soda ash in the production of pharmaceuticals, glassmaking and even making everyday washing powders.

But now the Tanzanian president, Jakaya Kikwete, has revived the plans – which could see 200,000 tonnes of soda ash being extracted from the lake each year – despite his government accepting an award for shelving them at the Nagoya biodiversity summit last year.

Disturbance from the soda ash extraction has been identified as one of the greatest threats to the flamingos’ future survival.

The development and associated infrastructure would potentially displace around 75% of the world population of lesser flamingos.

WWT chief executive Martin Spray concluded: “The breeding colony of flamingos on the caustic Lake Natron is truly one of nature’s greatest spectacles and this site has been designated by Tanzania and internationally for its importance to wildlife and people.

“Lesser flamingos lay only one egg at each attempt – and we know that disturbance can have a marked effect on breeding success. Any changes at Lake Natron could very quickly bring about a catastrophic decline.”

Footage of the lesser flamingo egg being incubated by parent prior to hatching yesterday

Photo of flamingos and chick at top of page by William Wattling
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First for Caerlaverock!!

Posted on 17 July 2011 by WWT Caerlaverock

Breeding birds at Caerlaverock, three new breeding records.

Garganey

A pair of Garganey was first seen on 26th March in a small borrowpit in the Corner Field. These birds remained here for a few days and later relocated to the Teal Pond. The last time the pair was recorded together was on the 1st May, since then only the male had been seen. The male remained present moving around all the water bodies until 25 May when he was no longer seen. Whilst walking around the Teal Pond early one morning on the 11th June a female Garganey came flying out of the juncas and straight to my feet calling consistently. She stayed like this for 30 seconds then shot back into the juncas. This first approach was a giveaway that she had young in the area and it was just a waiting game from then on to find out how many. Whilst walking around the pool the next few days until 14th June the same happened however, on the 15th June a small duckling was seen the briefly in the long vegetation behind the area she came out of. Later on that day whilst sitting in the Teal Pond hide she kindly brought herself and her eight ducklings out across the pond.

Over the next few days she moved around a lot and ended up on the back pond, here she stuck very close to the undergrowth and in the end went missing on the 20th June. Since then juvenile birds have been seen on the back pond, Teal Pond and Folly Pond and we believe she has sadly lost 3 ducklings as we have a maximum count of five juveniles. These birds are coming out a lot now feeding mainly around the Teal Pond and with a bit of patience can be seen easily.

This is the first ever record of Garganey breeding here at WWT Caerlaverock and only the second time in Dumfries and Galloway, the first being in 2003.

Shoveler

Another first breeding record for WWT Caerlaverock is Shoveler, this species has never been reported breeding on the reserve, but on 15th July a female was seen on the Flood Ground with 8 ducklings. Shovelers are known to breed around the local area so we are really pleased they have decided to breed here this year.

Gadwall

Another first for WWT Caerlaverock comes in the form of Gadwall. Similar to the Shoveler this species is known to breed close by but has never been recorded on the reserve. However on the 10th July a female was seen with her eight Ducklings on the Teal Pond, and was more than happy to show them off to everyone in the hide.

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MP takes a dip with students

Posted on 15 July 2011 by WWT Arundel

Nick Herbert, MP for Arundel & South Downs, experiences learning outside the classroom with a pond dipping session at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre

A year five class from Brighton helped MP Nick Herbert experience learning outside the classroom on Friday 8 July at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre. Nick Herbert, the MP for Arundel & South Downs, grabbed a net and helped pupils fill their trays with pond creatures, “What a wonderful thing, to get the children out here to the wetland centre and to see them so engrossed.”

Since the learning program at WWT Arundel began in 1988, nearly 140,000 pupils have visited the centre. “I just couldn’t be more full of admiration and praise for what’s being done here.” Nick Herbert said describing WWT Arundel’s education programme. It was the first visit to Arundel Wetland Centre for the pupils from St. Joseph’s School in Brighton. Teacher Vicki McNeilly said “We will definitely be back next year.”

Across the UK, over 2 million pupils have visited WWT centres to take part in learning outside the classroom experiences which enable up-close and personal engagement with nature. “We do a tremendous job in this and it’s something we are going to do well into the future because its never been so important.” said Martin Spray, Chief Executive of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. “I don’t want children to experience the natural environment in the future only on computer screens. They need to get out and see it – and that’s what we do here.”

WWT has joined the Field Studies Council and RSPB to host learning outside the classroom experiences with Westminster MPs to help build relationships and support for the learning outside the classroom agenda. Over 30 MPs have now taken part in these events with local school groups on WWT, FSC and RSPB sites and reserves.

If you would like to book an educational visit to Arundel Wetland Centre, please contact Claire Drew, Learning Manager at 01903 881524 or Claire.drew@wwt.org.uk

MP Nick Herbert with students from St. Joseph's School in Brighton

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Looking for lavender

Posted on 15 July 2011 by WWT Arundel

Lucky ducks at Arundel?

Folklore says to plant lavender for luck. The Arundel Wetland Centre is hoping to have some soon in their search for these pretty plants. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust site needs donations of enough lavender plants to fill a one by fifteen metre raised bed. Dry and in full sun, the raised bed beside the World Wetlands duck feeding bay is a perfect spot for lavender to flourish.

‘’Lavender is a hardy plant which attracts a lot of insects – these will supplement the duck’s diets quite nicely.’’ said Paul Stevens, the grounds manager at the reserve. “The plants will also provide a lovely scent for the people on the benches near the feeding spot.” The WWT Arundel grounds team is hoping someone redesigning their own garden can spare some of the fragrant plants.

Many gardeners have donated plants and other objects to Arundel Wetland Centre. Recently, a gardener from Worthing donated an old tree stump he pulled from his own garden after he found it was home to larvae from the increasingly rare stag beetle. The stump has found a new home as part of the stag beetle log pile in the Woodland Loop at the wetland centre.

In the language of flowers, lavender means devotion. If you are devoted to conservation and want to help the Arundel Wetland Centre by donating some lavender plants, please call Paul Stevens at 01903 881527 or email paul.stevens@wwt.org.uk.

“Ladies fair, I bring to you, lavender with spikes of blue;
sweeter plant was never found, growing on our English ground.”
Caryl Battersby 1896

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