Wynona Legg, Ringed Plover Project Officer, tells us about our Plovers in Peril Project going on tour

It may not be breeding season, but beach nesting birds never stop needing the support of their local communities. The Plovers in Peril project team have been spending time with the local community this half term, doing what they do best and sharing their love for ringed plovers and oystercatchers which breed on Norfolk’s beaches during the summer. We were delighted to have been invited to join Norfolk Lavender for their first ever Conservation Day on Wednesday 27th October and were thrilled to stand with others in celebration of the wildlife that makes West Norfolk so special.

Ringed Plover Project Officer Wynona joined Titchwell Marsh Reserve’s Mike along with a few of our Plovers in Peril beach ranger volunteers to tell visitors about our incredible reserves, give advice on the best places to watch wildlife safely and highlight the importance of protecting the animals and plants that share our spaces.

Smiles all round at the RSPB stand. Image credit: Hayley Roan

It’s always a joy listening to people share their own stories about encounters with wildlife and it was even more heartening to hear so many members of the local community share their support for the project and our work to protect the birds that nest on Snettisham and Heacham South Beach during the summer months. Many of the visitors told us how they were helping these birds by keeping dogs on leads during the nesting season (from April to the end of August), keeping away from the upper shore where they nest and reading signs to stay up to date with summer restrictions. Without this sort of support, the birds that nest here have a tough time keeping their eggs and chicks safe - many struggling to reach fledging stage (when the chicks wings are strong enough for flight). A huge heartfelt thank you to all those who took action this summer to protect the birds that breed on these local beaches – with more people visiting the coast as a result of lockdown, beach nesting birds need your help more than ever.

Ringed plover with chick. Image credit: Phill Gwilliam

Those who came along to Norfolk Lavender’s conservation day were able to see what a ringed plover nest looks like up close with the help of our demonstration nest and some wooden replica eggs. Whilst those keen eyed visitors who had a go at our ‘find the nest’ game learnt just how hard-to-spot the ringed plover eggs can be when nestled in the sand and shingle – highlighting just how important it is to Watch Your Step when walking on any beach during nesting season.

A ringed plover keeps her wooden eggs warm at the RSPB stand. Image credit: John Jackson

Huge thanks to Norfolk Lavender for having us! We hope to see you all on the beach next summer!

 

Are you Interested in becoming part of Plovers in Peril team 2022 as a Beach Ranger Volunteer? Do you live locally to Snettisham or Heacham and have a few hours a week to spare during the summer months?  We are looking to grow our team for our next season (1st April-31st August) so that we can better protect the beach nesting birds choosing to nest on these beaches. Our beach ranger volunteers are a vital part of the project, chatting with beach visitors about these special birds and providing vital protection of their vulnerable nests through the season. If you think you’d like to join us next summer, please register your interest by emailing wynona.legg@rspb.org.uk to find out more. We would love to hear from you!

Plovers in Peril Project Officer and the Volunteer Team 2021. Image credit: RSPB