Sad news for spoon-billed sandpipers
This was one half of a pair of critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper chicks—the first ever bred in captivity—but sadly neither survived for more than 60 hours. Each weighed only a few grammes and was barely bigger than a bumble bee. Seven eggs were laid in total at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire, of which … Continued
Birds pushed to the edge by floods
A flock of cranes that ended up at the centre of a once-in-200-year flood has given researchers a rare insight into how wildlife copes with extreme weather. The cranes’ progress was being tracked by researchers from the University of Exeter, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) and RSPB when severe flooding hit the Somerset Levels … Continued
Here's a novel use for that machine which usually cleans chewing gum off streets
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Lancashire is using the Cardley-Wave machine to eradicate aquatic non-native weeds from its wetlands, while protecting native wildlife. The machine sprays a targeted jet of hot water—a bit like a carpet cleaner—which can also be used to kill individual weeds. Unlike chemical-based weed killers, there is no danger of … Continued
5 amazing wetland animals we'd never heard of before
Wetlands are essential habitats, playing crucial roles in our environment. They protect our shores from waves, reduce the impacts of floods by soaking up water like a sponge, filtering and purifying it so water quality improves, and they absorb pollutants too. Wetlands also provide a habitat for a huge diversity of animals and plants, many of which are … Continued