News
Barnacle geese tracking data to help steer windfarm locations
Barnacle geese heading to Svalbard for the summer have been tagged with satellite trackers to find out more about their migration. WWT has fitted five birds with the electronic backpacks which will provide data to help steer the locations of windfarm turb
9 April 2010
Public urged to tell politicians: we care about wildlife
Conservationists are urging the public to help stop further wildlife loss by encouraging their local MPs and Prospective Parliamentary Candidates to sign a new “Wildlife Pledge”, to do all they can to stop and reverse wildlife decline. A consortium of
30 March 2010
Efforts to save the world’s rarest duck receive timely boost
Efforts to establish a breeding programme to save the world’s rarest duck, the Madagascar pochard, have received a boost from Defra’s Darwin Initiative. £282,000 over three years from the Darwin Initiative will help to fully establish the breeding p
3 March 2010
New report reveals the ups and downs of Britain's waterbirds
Each winter Britain sees the arrival of millions of waterbirds of many different species from the Arctic and northern Europe. A report - Waterbirds in the UK 2007/08 – published today highlights some startling changes in the fortunes of these visitors o
19 February 2010
Early birds confused by late spring
Reports that spring may be delayed this year do not seem to have reached the birds at WWT London Wetland Centre. Some birds have already surprised visitors by singing unusually early. Birdwatchers heard the first bittern, a rare type of heron, ‘booming
19 February 2010
Give a gift from the heart this Valentine's Day
Looking for an original gift to warm the heart of your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Why not give a gift of bird adoption from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT). With a choice of 11 different birds to adopt, bird adoption is a unique gift for an
9 February 2010
Divorce on swan lake?
Bewick's swans form famously loyal partnerships during their lifetimes and will mate for life where they can. Divorce is exceptionally rare in this species. In over 4,000 pairs studied at Slimbridge during 40 years of study, only one pair have separated a
25 January 2010
Bittern boon-anza at London Wetland Centre
WWT London Wetland Centre is having a bumper winter for bitterns this year. Normally home to just one of these elusive birds from the heron family, this winter is seeing a bittern bonanza with the centre offering shelter for up to five at a time. Not only
22 January 2010
Mo the tree-climbing otter delights visitors at Slimbridge
It’s the otter equivalent of stomping upstairs to your room and slamming the door behind you. Here at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire Mo the otter flexes her teenage muscles by…… climbing a tree! Mammal Manager at Slimbridge, John C
20 January 2010
Lady Scott sadly passes away aged 91
WWT is deeply saddened to announce that Lady Scott passed away last night at the age of 91. Lady Scott was the widow of the late Sir Peter Scott, who founded the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) more than 63 years ago. There is a saying ‘behind every
6 January 2010
Wild birds take refuge as cold snap bites
WWT’s nine wetland centres across the UK are seeing bumper visitor numbers this week, but not just the human kind! The freezing conditions have prompted thousands more ducks, geese and swans than usual to enjoy the hospitality of WWT reserves during the
5 January 2010
Almost two girls for every boy is perfect start to pochard breeding programme
Scientists working to save the rarest bird in the world, the Madagascar pochard, have reported ducks (girls) outnumber drakes (boys) by almost two to one in the first two broods being reared in captivity, giving further hope to the emergency rescue missi
24 December 2009
Are the Bewick's predicting a white Christmas again?
With the country in the grip of arctic conditions from Russia, there’s an old Russian saying tthe swans bring winter on their wingst. So are the Bewick’s swans migrating from arctic Russia to winter at WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire accurately pre
17 December 2009
Success! hatch confirms doubling of population
The short text sent from Madagascar by Team Pochard’s Owen Joiner (Aviculture Manager at WWT’s Washington Wetland Centre) said it all: “100% hatch just complete. Massive grins” Fantastic news that all seven eggs from the third clutch of Criticall
20 November 2009
Madagascar pochard population set to double
The race against time to save the Madagascar pochard from extinction is well on the road to success. WWT’s ‘Team Pochard’ in Madagascar, along with colleagues from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and The Peregrine Fund look set to achieve the
13 November 2009