Two months ago, as the floodwater finally receded enough,
our team helped us carry the tern raft onto the top pond at North Duffield
Carrs (easier said than done), so it was great to return last week with
everyone to see the result of their efforts. As we pulled the raft in from the
middle of the pond it was fantastic to see three healthy chicks present, with
two of them using the little shelters we put out for them last month. This is
only the second time Common Terns have bred successfully in the valley
following the provision of the two rafts last year thanks to a kind private
donation to the ‘Friends of’ group. There is also presently another pair
incubating on the reserve at Wheldrake Ings on our second raft, so this could
be another record-breaking year. Up to five pairs were present earlier in
the spring but our rafts appear a bit on the small side
for them to share so we are hoping to install more onto the reserve next year –
please help the ‘Friends’ purchase additional rafts, as well as delivering
other benefits by supporting their new Go Fund Me campaign - https://www.gofundme.com/conserving-the-lower-derwent-valley.
Three years ago, the Friends of the Lower Derwent Valley
set up a trust to help conserve the LDV NNR and have done a fantastic job with
their efforts. In just a short space of time they have built up an impressive
track record having made financial contributions as match funding to bids by
both Natural England and YWT for management and visitor works, and have secured various grants and donations for the
Swift project and tern rafts. They have also contributed to the research
carried out on our nationally and internationally important bird populations
and have recently been successful in securing funding for reed bed creation in
the valley, but now they’re asking for additional help.
Following on
from the success of those projects, the ‘Friends’ are now looking to increase
their funds to help support other projects in the local area – providing Sand
Martin nesting banks, purchasing and re-creating traditional floodplain meadows
for Corncrake management and further satellite tagging of our migratory bird
populations. After the success of the first tern raft last year they would also like to
provide another raft. However, they need a bit of help along the way, and
following on from a few offers of donations recently, have decided to set up a
'Go Fund Me' page to help generate funding. For anyone interested in wildlife
and conservation in the local area please visit their page using the link
above, to help them deliver even more great benefits for both local wildlife
and people that visit the Lower Derwent Valley, thank you.
