Welcome to the LDV NNR ringing blog, this blog is designed to share the experiences, findings and tales from a group of dedicated ringers. We specialise in conservation orientated research projects, largely focusing on wildfowl, waders, owls and birds of conservation concern, in and around the Vale of York NNR's.

NB - Whilst the purpose of this blog was initially designed to cover our nationally important wildfowl ringing activities, it now also features wildlife and work posts, explaining how we manage the NNR for both wildlife and people.

For daily sightings please visit our Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ldv_nnr (@LDV_NNR)

For details of events, volunteer tasks and wildlife images please visit our Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/Lower-Derwent-Valley-Skipwith-Common-NNR

Friday 1 March 2019

20/02/19 - Willow Tits/Habitat Management

Last week we met with our partners the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, and staff from the ‘Back from the Brink’ project, discussing the plight of Willow Tits in the area. The Willow Tit is the UK’s most threatened resident bird having suffered a 94% decline since the 1970’s, and is now extinct in most of its former haunts in the south and south-east of England.

The LDV still supports a reasonable population, but we’re looking at how we can give them a helping hand in the area – this will be done by ensuring there is enough suitable habitat for them and to provide a more connected landscape helping them move between sites. Last week we made a start with our team, modifying some of our existing projects to gain extra benefits - whilst coppicing and felling some of the willows along the Wheldrake riverside track, we took the opportunity to leave high stumps, whilst also wiring up some of the felled stumps, to provide extra rotting timber that the Willow Tits can use to excavate nest holes, as well as providing new coppice regrowth of willow and blackthorn. We are looking for help in carrying out a survey of the wider area (please get in touch if you’d like to contribute), and we hope to colour-ring some of our local birds as part of the project to help us understand how they are using the wider area. 





Recently our team of staff and volunteers have also been busy repairing and reinstalling the screening by Pool and Swantail Hides. Despite the rather cold conditions and bracing wind the team managed to get the old screening back up and secured, as well as raising the height of the existing screening on the approach to Swantail Hide. This should mean that there won’t be any undue disturbance to the vast flocks of wintering waterfowl on the approach to the hides now – of benefit to both the birds and birdwatchers alike. It was also a case of great timing – with the reserve flooding the day after the work was finished! If you haven’t visited the reserve recently then why not plan a visit when the water starts to recede, to enjoy the improved facilities, new interpretation panels and wildlife spectacle for yourself. Numbers of wintering waterfowl often build up to their peaks in late February/March as our own wintering populations are joined by the first returning north and eastward bound migrants. Thanks as always to our fantastic team for doing such a great job helping us to maintain the reserve.





 

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