Recently, we posted that due to the help and support over
the last few years via logs, cards, calendars and donations, the Friends of the
Lower Derwent Valley had been able to purchase and install two Sand Martin
nesting banks at Wheldrake Ings and Bank Island. Once installation by John
and his team from Green Future Building, our hard-working team of volunteers carefully
filled all the nesting chambers and tunnels with sand - so that the Sand Martins
could then move in and dig it all back out. We’re delighted to say it’s been
an instant success, within days several individuals were busy excavating the
holes at Bank Island, providing great entertainment for visitors in the adjacent
hide to watch.
At present, up to 24 holes have been excavated, and last
week we were thrilled to find the first pairs are already incubating clutches,
with others busy lining their nests. Several birds have also started to investigate
the Wheldrake bank, hopefully visitors to the pool over the summer will be able
to enjoythe comings and
goings as the colony increases.
This really has been a case of ‘build it and
they will come’ – and in this case in just a couple of weeks. Many thanks to
the Friends for their ongoing support and great work in helping deliver improvements
to the reserve and adjacent area, and to everyone who has supported their work and
our hard-working volunteers. Following on from the immediate success this
year, we are hoping to install two more banks next year, including in
front of the Geoff Smith Hide at North Duffield Carrs, however a lot of funds
need to be raised beforehand. If you would like to help contribute you can do so
via our Go Fund Me page (https://www.gofundme.com/conserving-the-lower-derwent-valley) – thank you.
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