The avocet was adopted as the logo for the RSPB because it’s story of recovery and effective protection on the Suffolk coast in the 1940s is part of the history of our organisation (it's also handy that it’s black and white which helps with the photocopying – have you ever noticed how many logo-creatures are black and white, badgers, pandas?)
I’ve recently brought the Humber’s story on to these pages – and here’s the next instalment. Read’s Island is part of the shifting landscape of the tidal Humber estuary and the island is vulnerable to tides and storms, in 2007 much of the island was swept away in a storm – though erosion had been taking place since the 1950s. Historically the island has been used for grazing – it’s name coming, possibly, from the brothers Read who were the first to graze animals on it. Now it’s an RSPB reserve (but not one of the visitable ones). It’s also the home of a spectacular colony of nesting avocets – part of their successful colonisation from those founding days on the Suffolk coast 60 years ago.
Avocet numbers plummeted as a result of the storm damage with much of the island underwater. With a welcome Enriching Nature grant from the Sita Trust we have been able to put in place management work that has restored the conditions the avocets need – with wonderful results. The population has jumped from 50 pairs to over 250 in just three years. Here’s a great account of the work on the Sita Trust website.
So everything’s sorted then?
Well – not quite. You remember I said the island isn’t visitable? Well this spring and early summer has seen a spate of accidental landings on the island involving a jet ski and a sailing boat. The repeated helicopter rescues are a clear risk to the avocets – low-hovering helicopters over an island crammed with spindly birds trying to raise their young is clearly not an ideal mix. Now clearly no-one is saying that rescuing stranded sailors is a bad thing – but it’s vital we know why this problem is occurring and how it can be avoided in the future. One thing is certain – both the rescued and the rescuers are not aware of the impact they could have on this sensitive environment.
The solution will involve talking to the responsible authorities over the coming months to ensure that, come next breeding season, a plan is in place to ensure the risks to this fragile environment are minimised whilst the safety of those navigating the Humber is not compromised.
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