Name a knot

27 Jul 2017

We need your help to name 100, 000 anonymous knot at RSPB Snettisham

RSPB Snettisham nature reserve in Norfolk is home to over 100,000 knot – an incredible wading bird that can be seen flying in huge numbers over the reserve and mudflats of The Wash on the highest tides, performing spectacular displays for those who come to see them – but sadly, not a single knot has a name.

Now though, the RSPB hopes to change that by offering people the opportunity to ‘Name a Knot’ as part of its Snettisham Hide crowdfunding appeal.

On hearing about the initiative, one nameless knot tweeted: “For over 15 years I’ve been tumbling, wheeling and whirling between the mudflats and lagoons, blending in anonymously with the rest of the flock. I know I might be difficult to pick out in a crowd, but I’m my own knot. I want to be recognised as an individual. Now at last I might get a name of my own!”

Here at the RSPB in Eastern England, we are crowdfunding to build a new hide at Snettisham to help people experience the knot displays and other wildlife spectacles of The Wash after two hides were lost to the sea in a storm surge in 2013.

When you support the campaign, you can claim various rewards in return for donating to the appeal, which now includes a ‘Name a Knot’ reward available for a donation of £10. In return, ‘Name a Knot’ donors will receive a personalised name certificate for their knot. The perfect gift for the birders and animal lovers in your life.

A local birdwatcher who, unlike the Knot, wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I’ve been watching these knot for years, marvelling at the moving shapes their flocks form in the sky and taking their photographs, but now that you mention it, I don’t know any of them individually by name. I think I’ll call my knot ‘Slip’!”

Spot your knot

Flocks of tens of thousands of knot and other wading birds put on mesmerizing flying displays at Snettisham when they are pushed off the mudflats of The Wash in their masses by the tide.

RSPB Snettisham Site Manager, Jim Scott said: “Thousands of people come to Snettisham every year specially to see the stunning displays of the knot. Once you have given a knot a name you will be able to come to Snettisham and find your knot in amongst the other birds.

“The new hide we hope to build with the help of people’s ‘Name a Knot’ donations should make it easier to get close up views of the birds without disturbing them. I have to admit though they do all look very similar!”

Name Inspiration

Unlike baby names, there are currently no books of knot names for inspiration. So we've chosen a couple to get you started:

The top knot - the most hipster of all the knot.

The granny knot - the wisest of all the knot.

Feeling inspired? Name your own knot!

To name your knot, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/snettishamhide before the end of the appeal on 14 August and help create a building from which to watch your named knot at for years to come.

With only 100,000 ‘Name a Knot’ rewards available, the RSPB is urging people to get their names in early to avoid disappointment! Remember to tweet as the name of your knot at @RSPBintheEast using #SnettsHide

Important information:

· The ‘Name a Knot’ reward consists of a certificate personalised with the name you have chosen for your knot.

· The RSPB reserves the right to refuse to provide certificates containing names that are deemed to be offensive or inappropriate. In such cases, people will be given the chance to choose another name, but no refunds will be issued.

· The RSPB cannot provide updates about or any further information on individual Knot to anyone who claims a ‘Name a Knot’ reward.

· No Knot will be ringed, tagged or in any other way marked for future identification as a result of people claiming Name a Knot rewards.

· We cannot guarantee that you will see your named Knot when you visit Snettisham nature reserve after claiming your reward.

If you’d like any more information or think you might be able to help further please let us know. Email: snettishamproject@rspb.org.uk or call: 01485 545263