TV presenter Mike Dilger feeds the 500!
(Edited from the Big 9 Challenge blog written by Mark Simpson)
On Sunday 27 January, TV presenter Mike Dilger visited WWT Llanelli! The sun was shining and centre manager Nigel Williams took Mike on a quick tour of the centre, picking up gadwall, pochard, shoveller, shelduck, lapwing, little egret, a kestrel and much more, before Mike was given his challenge for the day.
Under the watchful eye of the WWT Llanelli Grounds Manager, and followed by a large crowd of visitors, Mike was to feed the 500 (or so) exotic birds in the captive collection, in just one hour.
There has been some question as to whether Mike did actually feed 500 birds within the alotted hour. Certainly, there was quite a lot of chatting and a lot of photo stops, but from flamingos to ferruginous ducks, a lot of birds were fed. Sadly the Guinness adjudicators could not be there, but WWT’s learning assistant Pam assures me that she was keeping a close eye on things and there were definitely more than 500 birds that got their tea from Mike. Go Mike! In recognition of his achievement, the Llanelli team awarded him one of their homemade woolen spoon-billed sandpipers.
Mike went on to deliver a sold-out talk on the evening, raising lots of money for the spoon-billed sandpiper appeal (more information at http://www.wwt.org.uk/news/all-news/2012/07/wwt-news/first-ever-spoon-billed-sandpiper-chicks-hatch-in-the-uk/?gclid=CKmyr5SEk7UCFW3KtAodAjUAww), before leaving late and heading straight for his next stop - Martin Mere, where he arrived at 2.30am!
The next day, our very own centre manager Nigel Williams was on TV too! He starred on Weatherman Walking with Derek Brockway, walking the stretch of the coastal path between WWT Llanelli and North Dock!
