Success for RSPB and WWT ‘headstarting’ project in Fens as number of wild breeding pairs of black-tailed godwits rises
The number of wild breeding pairs of black-tailed godwits in a trial area has increased from just three pairs in 2017 to 16 in 2022, following an ‘headstarting’ project in the Fens.
The rare birds are being given a helping hand, with the eggs hatched and chicks reared in captivity by Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) staff at Welney before they are released into the wild to go on and raise young of their own.
The project was a collaboration between the RSPB and WWT as part of EU LIFE-funded Project Godwit to aid the recovery of the red-listed species, and is informing ongoing efforts to help them across England. WWT staff are continuing their headstarting work following the results of the study published in Animal Conservation, which found headstarted individuals have comparable breeding success to their wild reared counterparts.
Lynda Donaldson, senior conservation scientist with the RSPB and formerly of WWT said “Headstarting like this can provide a much-needed boost to a small population that is under threat of becoming locally extinct. This buys time for longer-term interventions to be identified and take effect. Seeing some of the headstarted birds returning to the Ouse Washes in spring following migration to raise chicks of their own gives us real hope for the future of this species here in the UK.”
Jonathan Taylor, senior site manager for the RSPB’s Ouse Washes, added: “For me personally, it is a terrible thought to lose such a beautiful wading bird from the wetlands I have helped to manage for the past 30 years. It is testament to all involved that acting together to halt nature's decline in a proactive way not only benefits these rare birds but also the ecosystem they rely on and the society-wide benefits that derive from it.”
Will Costa, project manager and lead aviculturist at WWT, said: “Project Godwit was a crucial stepping stone for black-tailed godwits in the UK, saving them from a second extinction on the Ouse Washes and supporting their recovery as a breeding species. It’s great to see the impact of this work confirmed with robust analysis.
“WWT has continued its headstarting work through the Natural England Species Recovery Programme Capital Grant Scheme (SRPCGS) funded Godwit Futures programme, as well as working with partners across the fens to help create and restore the wetland habitats they rely on.”
Project Godwit received major funding from the EU LIFE Nature Programme, The HSBC 150th Anniversary Fund, Natural England and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
