Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

Make a Difference - Adopt a Bird

Hover over the birds on the lake to choose your adoption.

Bewick's swan

Bewick's swans are the smallest and rarest of the three species of swan found in the British Isles. Every year they fly thousands of miles from their breeding grounds in the Russian Arctic to spend the winter in the UK.

Bewick's are threatened due to habitat loss and illegal shooting and are of conservation concern.

Your adoption is helping WWT:

to continue our long-term study of this species, both on their summer and wintering sites

determine the ecological parameters required for their ultimate survival and the likely impact and adaptation to threats such as climatic change

promote the protection of wetland sites as well as making efforts to control the hunting

engage and inspire people to take an interest in the natural world

You can see Bewick's swans at many of our centres including Slimbridge and Welney (during winter migration). Adopt this bird for just £27.00, including postage and packing.

mallard

Probably the UK's most familiar duck, the mallard has suffered such a decline in numbers that they have been added to the amber list in the recent birds of conservation concern report.

Though many mallard spend the whole year in the UK, during the winter months they are joined by thousands of cousins from colder climates of north-east Europe and Russia. It is the number of these migratory birds which has dropped by over a quarter in 25 years.

Your adoption is helping WWT:

manage UK wetlands to ensure maximum biodiversity

protect and create suitable habitats for both our resident and wintering mallards

enhance the quality of people's lives through wetlands and their wildlife

engage and inspire people to take an interest in the natural world

You can usually see mallard at all of our nine centres. Adopt this bird for just £27.00, including postage and packing.

Eurasian crane

Over 400 years ago these magnificent giants were hunted to extinction in the UK. WWT is involved in an exciting project, together with the RSPB, the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, and Viridor Credits Environmental Company to re-establish a resident breeding population of cranes in restored wetlands in Britain, securing its future as a resident species.

Your adoption is helping WWT:

manage and hatch crane eggs for Crane School at our world renowned duckery at WWT Slimbridge

continue researching wild crane rearing techniques through Crane School at WWT Slimbridge and in some of our other wetland centres

continue vital research into conservation of valuable species all over the world

engage and inspire people to take an interest in the natural world

You can see Eurasian cranes at some of our wetland centres: Slimbridge, Martin Mere, Washington and London. Adopt this bird for just £27.00, including postage and packing.

nene

The nene (pronounced nay-nay) is the rarest goose in the world. In 1951 the population fell to only 30 birds, but thanks to WWT's conservation work they were saved from extinction.

Numbers remain unstable due to the need for grassland reserves where they can feed in safety from predators.

Your adoption is helping WWT:

advise on habitat management in Hawaii to create grassland reserves

continue with our very successful captive breeding programme at our centres

engage and inspire people to take an interest in the natural world

You can see nene at many of our centres including Slimbridge, Llanelli, Washington and Martin Mere. Adopt this bird for just £27.00, including postage and packing.