20/06/16 - Goose round-up

Last week the annual goose round-up took place on Wheldrake Ings, involving an early start for the team. Following a productive breeding season there has been a sizable crèche on the pool at Wheldrake over recent weeks, with c130 goslings and 40 adults present on the site. The birds were gently persuaded onto the pool, and then through the willows and poolside vegetation and into our coral where a respectable 31 were caught. The sheer number of the geese present tested the coral fencing to its limit, and forced it over into the water allowing many to break through – repair work to follow... The birds were ringed before being released back onto the pool where they regrouped back into family parties within the larger crèche. Prior to the catch a total of 785 Greylag Geese had been ringed in the valley, the data from which has produced a lot of information on where the local population moves to – more to follow soon. Many thanks to our fantastic team of volunteers for really getting stuck in and not minding the deep water, thick mud & plague of horse flies! 

After releasing the birds back on to the pool, Jean produced a young Grey Heron ready for release back into the wild. The individual, pictured below, ended up in Jean’s care following a collision with a car on the outskirts of York. Presumably this bird either got into some difficulty, or perhaps crash landed due to its inexperience in flying. Fortunately, other than being a bit ‘roughed up’, after a few days TLC, rest and recuperation with Jean, it was ready to be released onto the reserve to join the other recently fledged herons. It’s always a great privilege to see these special birds up close, and a big thank you to Jean for sharing this special moment with our volunteers.