Staff at Washington Wetland Centre are commemorating after the effective fledging of 7 red noted willow tit chicks – the fastest decreasing resident bird types in the UK.
The threatened bird is already extinct throughout much of southern England with breeding sets plunging by 85% because 1995.
The news are the offspring of an adult set who were ringed on the centre’s forest reserve last winter season as part of a ‘species recovery project’ to enhance the population of the threatened bird.
Wardens on the 100-acre website had actually been tracking the motions of the male and female as they checked out possible nesting areas in early spring, and were thrilled when they lastly started excavating an old tree stump.
The group rapidly established a cam at the nesting chamber and were rewarded with video of 8 willow tit eggs in the nest – 7 of which went on to hatch and fledge.
Reserve warden Andrew Diamond, who became part of the group dealing with the job, said: “We managed to ring three adult willow tit last winter during a public ringing session, which was part of our ongoing willow tit conservation project.
“Two of those birds were then captured together by our trail cameras checking out potential nesting sites.
“From the eight eggs laid, seven successfully hatched and they all went on to fledge after seventeen days of being looked after by mam.”
The factor for the quick decrease in the willow tit population is because of environment loss, nest hole competitors from other birds, such as blue tits, and increased nest predation from the great-spotted woodpecker.
To help take on the very first 2 problems, the Washington Wetland Centre employed the help of a prepared band of volunteers to produce ideal nest boxes.
The job was led by Emily Chubb who said: “It has been really exciting to get involved with the willow tit project.
“A big part of this has been building the willow tit boxes and throughout the winter we would spend our Sundays in the workshop alongside our hard-working volunteering group, allowing us to learn as we go.
“Using knowledge about areas that are preferable to willow tits, as well as our own sightings, we put out many of our boxes in strategic places across site.
“These were then checked and monitored with camera traps, and seeing some interest from willow tits in the boxes we built over the following months was very rewarding for both me and the volunteers.”
Part of the healing job has actually likewise included volunteers keeping an eye on and reporting willow tit sightings both at the centre and the surrounding location to help produce a total image of the types’s population.
Andrew said: “Before the project began, we already knew we had a small population of willow tit here on the reserve and we manage our wet woodlands and other habitats to encourage them to stay.
“But now, thanks to our visitors and members supplying us with sightings data – as well as the wider project team’s help with monitoring and analysing camera footage – we’re starting to build a much better picture of that population and have been able to identify some key willow tit hot spots on site.
“Closely observing the willow tits going about their business through the breeding season has given us some invaluable knowledge that we can use going forward whilst developing willow tit habitat.”
