Blog

Why do birds sing, and what do their calls mean?
What do the songs and calls of birds mean, why do they sing more at certain times of the day or year and is it emotional or purely a means of survival?

Nature and lockdown: how we can plan a ‘green recovery’ for our health
Many of us have become acutely aware that our connection to wild places and other forms of life is innate and essential to our wellbeing as well as that of the wildlife we love. So how can we make nature and our health our priority?

Behind the scenes at our centres
If you’re wondering what our favourite residents are up to during lockdown, here’s a sneak peek from those busy taking care of the animals. If you’re missing the cheeky antics of our otters or the welcoming peck of a goose you’re in for a treat…

Welcome home! Black-tailed godwits return to WWT Welney
It seems that home really is where the heart is, even if you’re a black-tailed godwit. With good numbers already returning to Project Godwit sites this year, the future looks bright for these iconic waders.

Can a wetland bring a dead lake back to life?
Find out how PhD student Olly Van Biervliet turned a polluted shallow lake into a thriving, healthy ecosystem using a constructed wetland for wastewater treatment. It now boasts a vast and growing range of biodiversity.

While humans are away, the birds put on a display
Wildlife courtship displays can be dazzling to watch. From dances to poses, here are some wetland courtship displays to look out for this spring.

Which wetland birds migrate to the UK in spring?
Have you ever noticed how many different birds there are in spring? Every year a huge biodiversity of bird life migrates to the UK's wetlands, from water-loving raptors like the osprey to the bird with the longest migration in the world.

Your window on wetland wildlife - April 2020
Since lockdown began we’ve been working hard to bring nature to you. Our social media channels have been full of the hum and buzz of spring on our reserves. It’s a great way for you at home to feel connected to the wetland nature we're missing.

UK crane population reaches its highest level for over 400 years
Crane numbers are a 400-year high thanks to to a conservation partership between charities.

Wildlife on Lockdown: keeping WWT nature reserves going
Even though business as usual has ground to a halt, spring wildlife across our sites is in full swing. Emma Hutchins, our Head of Reserves, shares the challenges of continuing under lockdown conditions.

From egg to chick: how we hatch eggs for our conservation breeding programmes
Despite the current conditions, we still need to look after our endangered birds. Our aviculturists are experts at turning an egg into a fluffy new chick or duck, and they've shared their knowledge of how they hatch eggs for our breeding programmes.

Build it and they will come - just add water!
A WWT supporter, John, has created a suburban wildlife oasis within his own garden in Gloucestershire. Discover the wonderful features and creatures within the garden, and find inspiration to create your own - by just adding water!

Wetlands throughout the seasons: spring
Spring arrives with less of a bang, and more of a gradual unfolding of life. From catkins to kingfishers to migratory birds, here's a quick guide as to what you can find in wetlands in spring.

Endangered wetland species that still need our help
We’re passionate about protecting the wetlands habitats of some the most endangered species on the planet. Discover which species they are and why they seriously need our help.

Dr Julia Newth talks Greta, why science needs women and why young women need passion and a strong belief to succeed
There are three main things I think a young woman needs to flourish and succeed in a science career: confidence, resilience and a passionate belief in something. And you don't need to be good at science to contribute and make a difference.