News
Rare flamingo hatch shines spotlight on threat to wild population
Staff at WWT were overjoyed as the second lesser flamingo ever bred by them in captivity hatched this week. But the mood was tempered by news that three quarters of the wild population in Africa is threatened by industrial development. In the wild, as in
22 July 2011
First for Caerlaverock!!
Breeding birds at Caerlaverock, three new breeding records. Garganey A pair of Garganey was first seen on 26th March in a small borrowpit in the Corner Field. These birds remained here for a few days and later relocated to the Teal Pond. The last time the
17 July 2011
MP takes a dip with students
Nick Herbert, MP for Arundel & South Downs, experiences learning outside the classroom with a pond dipping session at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre A year five class from Brighton helped MP Nick Herbert experience learning outside the classroom on Friday
15 July 2011
Looking for lavender
Lucky ducks at Arundel? Folklore says to plant lavender for luck. The Arundel Wetland Centre is hoping to have some soon in their search for these pretty plants. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust site needs donations of enough lavender plants to fill a one
15 July 2011
Launch of WWT’s 2011-2012 Photography Competition in celebration of the Scott Antarctic Expedition Centenary
1 September 2011 will see the return of WWT’s popular Photography Competition. The 2011-2012 competition is being held in celebration of the Scott Antarctic Expedition Centenary and offers an amazing first prize of a trip to Antarctica. The competition
13 July 2011
Dragonfly habitat area launched at WWT Welney
Staff at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Welney Centre invited donators and supporters to the opening of the new dragonfly pond area on the reserve this week. It is hoped that visitors will now be able to enjoy close encounters with the 20 species of d
13 July 2011
First spoon-billed sandpiper chicks hatch in captivity
The first critically endangered spoon-blled sandpiper to hatch in captivity in the world was always going to be a spectacular sight, but when a Heritage Expeditions boat docked in Anadyr last night not one, not two, but an incredible 17 tiny, hatched spoo
12 July 2011
Smew success!
I love Smew. They seem... precise, with tremendous character and depth. I adore the way they animatedly nod at each other as if gossiping maliciously amongst themselves. If a Laysan teal has a cigar and a Carolina a tutu, then a Smew would definitely hav
12 July 2011
New wetland at WWT Welney gets thumbs up from breeding waders
A pair of black-tailed godwits has successfully reared a brood of three chicks on 80 ha of recently created wetlands at WWT Welney Wetland Centre in Norfolk next to the Ouse Washes reserve. Black tailed godwits are now a very rare bird on the Ouse Washes
11 July 2011
Somerset's got wetland talent! Yatton councillor wins WWT's Marsh Award for Wetland Conservation
At a special wetland conference this week, Councillor Tony Moulin received the Marsh Award for Wetland Conservation and a prize of £1,000. WWT gives the Marsh Award to recognise the good work and talent of people who create and look after wetlands. This
5 July 2011
Wetland loss threatens wildlife and people, leading conservationists warn
More wetlands need to be created across the UK to safeguard wildlife and human health and prosperity, according to leading experts. Nearly one hundred of the country’s top wetland conservation scientists met last week to discuss the threat to wetlands,
5 July 2011
Somerset’s Got Wetland Talent!
Yatton councillor wins £1,000 for his work at the Strawberry Line and Biddle Street SSSI Jo Winyard of the Marsh Christian Trust presents Tony Moulin with The Marsh Award for Wetland Conservation, L-R: Faith Moulin, Tony Moulin, Jo Winyard, Rob Shore (W
1 July 2011
Billy the bruiser rules the roost
Little Billy the bruiser rules the roost A small crane, who makes slugs and worms his dish of the day, has emerged as the surprise leader of the pack at this year’s Crane School at WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. Billy is one of the class of cranes b
1 July 2011
Chinese spotbill surprise...
My experience of Chinese Spotbill is that they are a flighty duck, with a delicate temperament and a tendency for secrecy. In 2010 we put a pair in a breeding aviary in the outside duckery, and they spent all year doing absolutely nothing whilst hiding i
1 July 2011
Research team take rare eggs to save species from extinction
Under gruelling conditions and amid fears it might be too late, a conservation breeding team in the remote Russian Far East has collected a clutch of spoon-billed sandpiper eggs, signalling an incredible step towards safeguarding the species from extincti
28 June 2011