THE RSPB MARKS TEN YEARS OF NEST PROTECTION ON THE RIBBLE WITH AN APPEAL FOR YOUR HELP

Fylde Bird Club and the RSPB began monitoring Black-tailed Godwits after Fylde Bird Club Secretary Paul Ellis became aware that a pair was nesting on the Ribble in 1997. In 1998, a nest had its eggs stolen and it became evident that egg thieves were a serious threat.

In 1999, the first official nestwatch was launched by the RSPB and ten years on the RSPB is still providing a 24-hour watch on the nesting birds thanks to the help of a team of volunteers, local people and the police.

Black-tailed Godwits are a tall elegant wading bird whose numbers are threatened across Europe, due to loss of its natural nesting habitat and persecution by egg collectors. Fewer than 60 pairs of the long-legged wading birds breed in the whole of the UK and the godwits on the Ribble are the only ones to nest in northwest England.

Carol Coupe, the RSPB's project officer, said, “With so few of these birds nesting in the whole of the UK, the Ribble Estuary birds need all the support we can give them. We are appealing to local people to help us protect our gorgeous godwits by volunteering a little time to help with the nest watch.”

Anybody who would like to find out more about volunteering to help conserve these beautiful birds, is invited to come along to the Ribble Discovery Centre, Fairhaven Lake, Lytham St Anne's at 7pm on 1 April 2009, or contact Carol Coupe on 01524 581008 or e-mail carol.coupe@rspb.org.uk.

Carol added, “The meeting is on 1 April but protecting these birds is no April Fool joke. We really need support from local people.”

Black-tailed Godwits are protected by UK law and anyone convicted of raiding their nests, taking their eggs or disturbing them can face a fine of up to £5,000 for each incident or six months in prison.

The breeding Black-tailed Godwits of Newton Marsh - a race apart

The Black-tailed Godwit has a discontinuous breeding distribution from Iceland to Siberia with three forms (distinct populations) being recognised of which two breed in Europe; the nominate form limosa and the form islandica. Islandica which, as it's name suggests breeds principally in Iceland, is currently increasing and, as it is Black-tailed Godwits of this form thatoccur in some numbers on the Ribble Estuary and elsewhere in the British Isles as non-breeding visitors, this population rise has been reflected in higher counts here. Therefore, it might seem likely that the breeding Black-tailed godwits at Newton Marsh are islandica which have chosen to remain to breed by the Ribble Estuary, indeed as many as 200 islandica regularly visit Newton Marsh to feed late into the spring. However, the nominate form limosa is the only form which regularly breeds in the British Isles, primarily on RSPB reserves in Cambridgeshire.

Since Black-tailed Godwits were discovered breeding on Newton Marsh their form has remained unknown until this year when, after good views, they have been confirmed as being of the internationally declining form limosa. Limosa breeds in the Low Countries through to Russia and is a true long distance migrant wintering mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and India.

But does it really matter which form of Black-tailed Godwit breeds at Newton Marsh? Well it may prove to be crucial factor in determining the future of breeding Black-tailed Godwits at the site. It is most unlikely that islandica will ever breed so far south and so recruitment of breeding birds from the growing wintering population on the Ribble Estuary is therefore not likely to occur. Black-tailed Godwits are long-lived birds so the same adult birds are probably returning to nest at Newton Marsh each year. If breeding success remains low in future years and breeding godwits are ultimately lost from Newton Marsh it seems unlikely that they would ever return.

Black-tailed godwits - spot the difference

Telling limosa from islandica in the field is not easy but to the trained eye a combination of features often makes it possible.

limosa, breeding female, Newton Marsh 10th May 2003 (Chris Batty)	islandica, male in active post-breeding moult, Marshside, Merseyside 25th June 2002 (Chris Batty)

Help the Fylde Bird Club and RSPB save the breeding Black-tailed Godwits of Newton Marsh