Up-close and personal
Regular feeding brings waterfowl up-close and personal at Martin Mere. Despite Storm Jorge, our Annual General Meeting had a warm welcome at WWT Martin Mere this weekend. Principal honour in our annual awards went posthumously to Christopher Marler – not only for his huge contribution to the Association, but recognising his breeding achievements over a […]
Oiled King Eider survives 24 years after being cleaned
A recent ringed bird recovery shows something truly remarkable: the oldest known wild King Eider – was a 24-year-old oil spill survivor cared for by International Bird Rescue. This finding proves once again that rehabilitated, formerly-oiled birds can survive many years after treatment and release back to the wild. The latest discovery involves a male […]
AI Restriction Zone in Mid Suffolk now lifted
Following the outbreak of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza A virus subtype H5N3 in a commercial chicken flock in Mid Suffolk on 10 December 2019, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have today lifted the 1km Restricted Zone. This follows from the required surveillance in the Restricted Zone being completed with negative results. […]
DNA proves Stone Age humans enjoyed Duck Dinners
This is the face of a woman who lived 6,000 years ago in Scandinavia. Thanks to the tooth marks she left in ancient ‘chewing gum’, scientists were able to obtain DNA, which they used to decipher her genetic code. It seems likely that she had dark skin, dark brown hair and blue eyes. Dr Hannes […]
AI and Biosecurity
There’s never a good time to hear that there’s been a Bird Flu outbreak. Low pathogenic avian influenza of the H5 strain was confirmed at a commercial chicken farm in Mid Suffolk on 10 December 2019. All birds on the premises will be humanely culled. A restricted zone of 1km is in place around the […]
Wild Bird Populations in the UK, 1970 to 2018
Bird populations have long been considered to provide a good indication of the broad state of wildlife in the UK. This is because they occupy a wide range of habitats and respond to environmental pressures that also operate on other groups of wildlife. In addition, there are considerable long-term data on trends in bird populations, […]
Join us for the AGM
This year we return to the North-west and WWT Martin Mere. Saturday 29th February 2020 at 2pm Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Martin Mere, Fish Lane, Burscough, Ormskirk L40 0TA If you are a member and planning to attend, please let us know info@waterfowl.org.uk get directions here After the business bit, Steve Dilworth will introduce us […]
General Licences
Following public consultation, and on advice from Natural England, DEFRA have re-issued the General Licence WML-GL36. This permits the control of pest species listed in the licence. For the licence pertinent to: • England – see here. • Wales – see here. • Scotland – see here.
BWA Spring Open Weekend at Humberside
Read report here.
Project Laysan Duck
The small brown duck with huge personality. We are still sampling feathers of Laysan Ducks. Our project is examining the genetic purity of the Laysan Duck, Anas laysanensis. We are still sending out sampling packs for Project Laysan Duck. Read more about the project here. Contact us if you have not received your pack and […]
