I did have my spirits raised somewhat when a stunning adult Spoonbill dropped onto the pond early on. It eventually made its way in front of the hide and thus allowed for a few images, a couple of which are here.
Thursday, 11 June 2015
The demise of the Cresswell Pond Avocet nests and a Spoonbill.
I returned to Cresswell Pond for the first time in over a fortnight early on Tuesday morning and was saddened to see that all the Avocet nests had been predated and not even the adults were around. I e mailed the trust a few weeks ago to let them know that the first bird was on the first nest here but apart from an automated reply to say they had received the e mail i heard nothing more from them. I watched over the following weeks as more and more birds were deciding this was the place for them to start their new families. The main reason i had contacted the trust was the fact that the nests would be so open to predation whether it be from animals or even humans as access to the sand bar was easy enough from in front of the hide. I bumped into a couple of trust workers putting up a compound on the beach at Chevington Burn for what i thought would be the Ringed Plovers but was inform by one of the guys that it was in fact for Roseate Terns. Whatever it was for when i saw the Avocets at Cresswell i thought that something along similar lines might have been erected temporarily somehow to give the Avocets some sort of chance. Sadly, as it turned out they were left to get on with it and the sandbar is now missing these beautiful creatures. Hopefully the Wildlife Trust will turn their thinking away from Hauxley for a short while and consider a strategy that might give the Avocets a fighting chance of rearing young at Cresswell Pond next year. I'm sure a consultation with other reserves that have these birds breeding there would help them come up with something.
I did have my spirits raised somewhat when a stunning adult Spoonbill dropped onto the pond early on. It eventually made its way in front of the hide and thus allowed for a few images, a couple of which are here.
I did have my spirits raised somewhat when a stunning adult Spoonbill dropped onto the pond early on. It eventually made its way in front of the hide and thus allowed for a few images, a couple of which are here.
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Such a shame about the Avocets John, just gotta hope they aren't put off from trying again next year. And I agree, you'd think those with the power to do so would do all they could to help such an iconic bird get established on their land, though (as seen on springwatch) it takes a hell of a lot to stop a determined predator.
ReplyDeleteWhile guys like you plead for the sensible approach when it comes to controlling predators, there are probably far more people who will quickly hammer the conservation body for doing just that. Crows are a serious predator of ground nesting birds and their eggs and chicks and will keep coming back but put some Larsen traps out listen to the outrage it causes. The sensible and cheapest solution to the rogue badger on Springwatch last year would of been to quietly permanetly "remove" it one night.
ReplyDeleteLucky for the badger not everyone likes doing things on the cheap then.
DeleteWildlife needs a helping hand now and then and i thought that's what these wildlife trusts were supposed to be for Alan. If the Avocets had been given some sort of helping hand their eggs/ chicks may just have survived. Nothing was done.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't disagree with you more Derek.
ReplyDeleteFair enough Johnny, want to tell me why
ReplyDeleteWish I could get as close to the Spoonbill John, as they always seem to be on the far side of the pond when I visit.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see if any steps are take by the NWT to try and safeguard the Avocet chicks next year. It's a difficult one and will prove expensive, (but as we have seen at Minsmere it can be done) but I note from the NWT website that there are all sorts of plans to be taken forward in Druridge Bay using the grants obtained. I am not entirely against control of predators when vulnerable species are at risk as biodiversity is important, but in this and many other cases I think the idea of 'taking out' the culprit is way to simplistic as surely another predator would move in to empty territory. Hope the NWT are giving the issue some thought.
The Trust have erected a temporary fence on the beach at Chevington Burn Brian so why not do the same at Cresswell ?
ReplyDeleteI believe in wildlife conservation Derek but i don't believe one animals life should be sacrificed for another if ever possible.
ReplyDeleteA heartfelt and simplistic view Johnny that many still agree with and programmes such as Springwatch seem to pander to, but in reality most nature reserves have had to realise that it simply doesn't work and therefore now have pest control measures in place. The argument that some people put up that "wildlife will simply balance itself out" just doesn't work out, it simply means that dominant species such as crows eat all the eggs and chicks of vunerable species such as Lapwings until you waste your time creating a reserve for them.
ReplyDeleteI know you have experience at Elmley so have to take on board what you say. In the case of the Avocets NOTHING was done and that's my problem.
ReplyDeleteJohnny, Avocets are notoriously difficult to protect at the nest because of their vunerability to just about anything that comes by. Yes, you can put up a fence to stop the public walking into the area but would to need to electrify it to help prevent fox and badger attacks. It's the avian attacks that are the worst to defend against, especially as the Avocets tend to nest in colonies rather than spread across an area like say Lapwings.and are therefore wiped out quite quickly and easily. Fortunately, once their chicks hatch out, the parents will often lead their chicks some fair distance away from the breeding area in order to make it difficult for them to be found. Prior to that however, the eggs and newly hatched chicks are easy prey to gulls, corvids, harriers, hedgehogs, all of which it is difficult for reserve managements to defend against.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insight Derek.
ReplyDelete