Page 10 - Issue 65 Online

Springing into

New Life

s the days lengthen and the temperatures
warm, new life is emerging all around us.
AWhilst gardens and community spaces
provide for a variety of birds, insects and plants.
The wetland habitats of the Fens provide for Smooth Newt - Sam Stafford
some of the rarest species found in the UK.
The Ouse Washes are home to many species of
ground-nesting birds, some like the black-tailed Our team of staff and
godwit are teetering on the edge of extinction volunteers at Welney
in the UK. Others such as lapwing, snipe and Wetland Centre are eager
redshank are declining nationally, putting more to share the highlights of
need for successful breeding seasons within our
local landscape. the season with visitors
Project Godwit sees WWT and RSPB working
together to boost the population of black- see and hear the sights and sounds of potential
tailed godwits through a specialist technique breeders trying to attract a mate. From lapwings
called head-starting, whilst maintaining and displaying their aerial acrobatic prowess to the
enhancing wet grassland habitats that provide a melodious songs of the warblers, wetlands
home for these birds. The peak breeding season are alive with activity. As well as the birds
for most ground-nesting birds on the Ouse that are going to stay in the UK for the spring
Washes is from April to June. It is amazing to and summer, wetlands are fantastic sites for
spotting the species
that are going to just
be passing through
on migration as they
make their way further
north. The pools and
muddy areas provide
the food and water
needed by wading
birds like ringed plover,
greenshank, green
sandpiper and ruff to
name a few. By May
we should be seeing

The finished bank at Welches Dam
PA G E 10 Project Godwit Rearing Pens - Georgette Taylor
PAGE
10