The staff of Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve (LNNR), working along the Northumberland coast in partnership with Northumberland Coast National Landscape Team, the National Trust and Space for Shorebirds through the LIFE WADER project, have warned that this year’s inclement weather is taking its toll on the critically endangered birds, who usually find sanctuary here every Spring to feed, roost and breed after travelling thousands of miles. This impact is being exacerbated by visitor recreation.
Senior Reserve Manager Andrew Craggs, who has managed the Reserve for over 20 years, explained: “Since Autumn last year the coastline has been battered by unseasonably high levels of rainfall and some of the strongest and most persistent winds and highest tides I’ve ever seen. Many of our shorebirds, already exhausted from their epic migration, have struggled to establish their usual nests. This has the potential to hugely impact breeding success and survival rates.”
Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, together with a number of other sites along the Northumberland Coast, is home to some of the rarest shorebirds in the UK. Shorebirds are birds that use the beaches, saltmarshes and rocky shores to nest, rest and feed, but are often overlooked and have suffered steep declines in the last 30 years. In the Northeast alone, habitat loss, increased coastal recreation and climate change have all taken a significant toll.
However, the past six months have been especially challenging for the wildlife here. The staff and volunteers have intensified their efforts to support breeding, especially in areas with the traditionally largest populations of breeding Ringed Plover and Little Terns. In particular, the teams at Lindisfarne NNR and the National Trust Long Nanny site have built up sandbanks using brash vegetation (driftwood and windblown shrubs and branches) to create more sheltered areas and raise nesting areas above the tideline.
Human activity, specifically recreation, is a major issue for the shorebirds too. James Porteus, Ranger for National Trust Northumberland, said: “Climate change is making nesting conditions increasingly challenging, but this is sadly exacerbated by humans. Although the coast is of course for everyone to enjoy, it’s important that we all respect the wildlife here too. During breeding season it’s vitally important that dog owners keep their dogs on leads at key breeding areas – dogs can unwittingly scare the vulnerable and exhausted birds and every year we lose nests to dog disturbance.”
The LNNR team and partners, supported by the LIFE WADER project, have produced a new free booklet Wild & Wonderful, a guide to the birds of the Northumberland Coast, to help raise awareness of the internationally important birds that can be found on the coast. Over the Spring and Summer, staff and volunteers will be hitting the road in their new mobile visitor centre to distribute the guide, run activities and workshops and be on hand to help visitors spot the amazing wildlife and understand how they can help care for it too.
Andrew added: “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors over the coming months – there has never been a better time for the public to learn about our exceptional local wildlife and the challenges it faces. Together we can all make a difference to its future survival.”
Over the next two years, Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, which is managed by Natural England, will receive additional support from the LIFE WADER project. National Trust Northumberland and the Northumberland Coast National Landscape Team will also receive extra support. LIFE WADER (Water and Disturbance Environmental Restoration on the Northumberland coast) is a major £5.8m nature recovery project, co-funded by the European Union. It is led by Natural England and brings together a range of experts to improve the ecological condition of more than 49,000 hectares of river, coastal and marine habitat and improve water quality within the river Tweed catchment and along the Northumberland Coast.
For more information, and to find out about Spring and Summer activities, please visit www.lindisfarnennr.blogspot.com, call the Reserve office on 01289381470 or email [email protected].
One of the largest river restoration projects in the UK has commenced in the Breamish Valley, Northumberland. The work will see the reinstatement of the meandering river system, bringing huge benefits for wildlife, ecology and man.
WADER is set to tackle the rapid spread of invasive species which are engulfing the dunes at Bamburgh on the Northumberland Coast. Work will start this month to restore this treasured landscape to its former glory.
A week of wild and wonderful family activities will run this Easter across Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve in celebration of the first ever Shorebird Awareness Week. Find out more about the event here.
