Fersiwn Gymraeg ar gael yma.
SPOILER ALERT! Do not read if you haven't watched BBC's Wild Isles - Freshwater - yet
This week’s episode took us from the mouth of the river, all the way up to the highlands where the freshwater start as little streams. Across the United Kingdom there are over 10,000 rivers, each holding a crucial lifeline to nature. From dancing Grebes and leaping salmon to some David versus Goliath style battles, once again this episode had it all.
More than one small step for most fish, one giant leap for salmon.
Who could not sit in awe and watch the amazing feat of the salmon leaping up a three-metre waterfall. What makes this feat more remarkable is that even after years away at sea, thanks to chemical signals, salmon are able to return to the river where they were born and to their breeding ground. What makes these creatures even greater is the way that their silver sea sheen dulls into a darker colour to camouflage themselves against the riverbed.
But despite the wonderful images of the salmon making it back up stream, courtesy of that three-metre leap, the reality is that salmon numbers are drastically falling, with a 70% drop in returning salmon. If things don’t dramatically improve within the next 20 years, salmon will disappear completely from our rivers, leaving an empty hole in the 50 or so rivers salmon can be found in Wales. Should you want to catch a glimpse of these beautiful fish then they can be seen on our reserve in Ynys-Hir.
A fight for survival
The freshwater episode also gave us an insight into how some of our beautiful creatures survive by hunting for their food. One spectacular scene from the episode saw the dog fight of the sky take place, as the returning hobby times it right on its return from Africa in the winter to capture dragonflies emerging - a rare sight but one captured beautifully on camera. Such is the intelligence of the hobby, it eats on the move, before flying around to take another swoop at the 100’s of emerging dragonflies. Hobbies can be seen in the summer months at our reserve in Lake Vyrnwy but do make sure you keep your distance as they are a Schedule 1 bird on The Wildlife and Countryside Act and subject to extra protection.
It takes two Grebes to tango
I’d imagine that most of you reading this blog have at some point tried to impress another person by showing off some dance moves. But I’d question if any were as impressive as that of the great crested Grebes’ mating dance. The dance can last for several minutes before each Grebe goes off in its own direction. The reason for this ritual is to form a strong bond and courtship between the male and the female.
Should you want to try and capture this elegant ritual, which includes some head shaking, bill-dipping and even draping themselves in weeds, why not visit our reserve at Ynys-hir one early morning in the Spring. What makes this dance even more special, as we heard in the show – Grebes that dance together, stay together.
But the reality of the situation is not all about dancing Grebes and leaping salmon. Biodiversity and the climate crisis are interlinked and are having a devastating impact on waterways and estuaries across Wales. Half of the rivers and lakes are not in a good condition for nature. As experts in river and coastal restoration, we are leading the way in protecting these vital habitats for international migratory birds, eels, salmon and the wildlife that depends on these watercourses. Well managed waterways can protect homes and communities from flooding and drought too.