Surfbirds News

These normally shy and secretive birds have been visiting the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust’s London reserve each winter since 2002, but in the past have remained hidden from view for weeks at a time. However, this year the birds are more confident and have moved into smaller areas of reedbed adjacent to the viewing hides, enabling visitors to get some amazing views.

It is hoped that the three birds will remain visible to visitors when the London Wetland Centre opens its doors for free on Sunday 29 January and Thursday 2 February, in celebration of World Wetlands Day 2006 (for a full list of activities on these days please visit: http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/wetlandcentre/event.asp )

Reserve Manager John Arbon said: “Bitterns have fluctuated from being an extremely common bird in centuries gone by, to almost extinct in the UK in the last few decades. Thankfully their numbers are on the rise again and it is amazing to think people can see them here, just 4 miles from Westminster. And with three birds in such a small area of reedbed it might be one of the highest densities of Bitterns in one area in the UK.”

The Bitterns have been seen at several different locations around the reserve, but the best views have been from the WWF Hide and the Peacock Tower, on occasion the birds being just metres away from the hide windows.

§ The Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is a large buff-brown heron, smaller and more compact in shape than the grey heron. Its ginger-brown colouration helps it to be almost entirely invisible in its habitat of reedbed – especially when it adopts its camouflage position with bill pointing up (a habit known as ‘Bitterning posture’)

§ Feeding on a diet of fish, amphibians, small mammals and insects the male’s booming call (used to attract its mate during the breeding season), which sounds like a very low fog-horn and can carry up to 5km on a calm night, is often the only thing that gives away the presence of this bird.

§ It is thought Bitterns require a reedbed area of at least 10 hectares to breed, with double this amount being preferable. Male Bitterns have been recorded ‘booming’ in only 10 places (across 4 counties) in the UK. It is not likely that they will ever be heard booming at the London Wetland Centre as the reedbeds are currently about a quarter of the size required of a breeding territory.

Bittern were first recorded at the London Wetland Centre on 11th January 2002 when three birds were sighted and subsequently stayed for up to 6 weeks. They have since returned each winter, usually first being seen in later December.

World Wetlands Day marks the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian City of Ramsar on 2 February 1971, when governments across the world agreed to conserve and make the best possible use of their valuable wetland resources. With 1314 designated Ramsar Sites, covering 111 million hectares world-wide, the Ramsar Convention now has 138 countries signed up.

This year’s World Wetlands Day theme is Alleviating Poverty through Sustainability. Visitors to the London Wetland Centre on the free days of Sunday 29 January and Thursday 2 February 2006 will be able to go on free bird-watching walks and guided tours. There will be children’s activities throughout the weekend of 28 and 29 Jan, as well as a programme of talks for adults around sustainable living on Thursday 2 February.

www.wwt.org.uk

Saving wetlands for Wildlife and People.

Help us to save wetland birds and their habitats by becoming a member of WWT. Telephone the Membership office on +44 (0)1453 891198
or email: membership@wwt.org.uk