Guest blog - Jodie Southgate (Research Student)
31st May 2013
Some of you may have noticed that the visitor trail at Otmoor now boasts a new section to the south of the hide. Opened last autumn, this path connects up with those running along the southern edges of The Closes and Ashgrave, creating new circular walks around this quiet (and often wildlife-rich) part of the reserve.
You may also have noticed a mystery person camped out in the hide with a clipboard in recent weeks - and that would be me! I am carrying out research for the RSPB on the potential impacts of opening this new path as part of my Masters dissertation at Oxford Brookes University. My aim is to find out whether the presence of people on the path has an effect on bird numbers and behaviour. Are they feeding less? Are they moving further away, perhaps abandoning the area altogether? Or does the path make no difference at all? These questions have implications for the visitor experience as well as for the birds themselves, as ideally we would like to make sure that plenty of birds can be observed from the hide.
My research involves making regular counts of the wildfowl and waders in a 250m radius around the hide and recording their behaviour. Between counts, I also pick on individual birds at random and observe them for five minute intervals. Most importantly, I keep track of the number of visitors using the path throughout the day. This data will allow me to analyse whether bird numbers and behaviour appear to change when visitors are present. I am ensuring that my fieldwork includes a good mix of dreary grey Mondays and sunny weekends and bank holidays (yes they do exist!) to provide a wide range of visitor numbers for comparison.
What I enjoy the most about the fieldwork is the opportunity to get to know a relatively small area, and the wildlife within it, very well. I have watched a lapwing defend her nest for four weeks and then successfully hatch four fluffy chicks. I have noticed the vegetation change over the weeks, with the buttercups bursting into flower this past weekend. Then there is the reed bunting who sings loudly from the same perch every day, without fail. It wouldn’t be the same without him!
The hide is also a fantastic place just to sit quietly for half an hour and observe bird behaviour. Even our most common, taken-for-granted birds get up to all sorts of interesting things, and every day brings something different. Personal highlights so far include:
- Comparing the bathing techniques of different species (redshank look like they are having a lot of fun; greylag geese look like they are drowning)
- Watching lapwing relentlessly dive-bombing a bemused female pheasant, who had presumably wandered too close to a nest
- Witnessing a coot - usually more notable for their noisy and aggressive behaviour - diligently swimming back and forth all day with nesting material for his partner, gently passing it to her before turning straight around and paddling off to find some more. On Wednesday the first chick hatched out, so his mission has now switched to fetching food for the little one, which he carries out with just as much dedication. So lovely to see!
Of course, I also enjoy chatting to the many people who visit the hide, hearing about what you have seen on the reserve and pointing new things out. The enthusiasm is infectious - it’s so uplifting to share someone’s excitement at having spotted their first hobby or turtle dove. So, if you are planning a visit to Otmoor over the next few weeks, please do come and say hello. And feel free to take a wander along the new path - it’s all in the name of science, and who knows what you may see!
Thanks Jodie, a lovely blog which captures the essence of the moor.