RSPB just bunged this over, about hot weather and the marsh....
The pools at Marshside RSPB nature reserve have all dried-up and most of the water birds are gone as the reserve shimmers in the current hot weather.
But it’s actually been a very good breeding season for the birds, says RSPB Site Manager Tony Baker. “Fortunately, all of our nesting birds had managed to raise their young to the flying stage before all the pools dried out,” Tony says.
“The avocets have had a fantastic year. We have had 24 pairs nesting and at least 30 young birds have been reared this year. Marshside is now the top site on the west coast of Britain for avocets!”
Tadpoles of the very rare natterjack toad were transferred from Birkdale and Ainsdale Nature Reserves this year and introduced to special pools constructed at Marshside. A dry period at this time of year is actually good news for them and the nesting wading birds.
“The larger water creatures that compete with the baby toads and birds for food cannot survive a drought. This means that next year there should be even more of the really tiny water creatures which do survive these catastrophic events which should mean another good breeding season for the birds next year.”
The pools are part of the carefully planned habitat management that the RSPB carries out at Marshside. More work to help the birds and other wildlife is planned for Marshside in the future.
There are still a few days left to comment on the proposed extension of the reserve at Marshside. Copies of the Draft Management Plan for the area are available at Southport and Churchtown libraries and on the Sefton Coast website. Contact Tony Baker on 01704 536378 for further details.
Comments from the public are welcomed until 15 August. Comments should be addressed to Tony Baker, RSPB Ribble Sites Manager, 24 Hoghton Street, Southport, PR9 0PA or to Head of Coast and Countryside, Sefton Council, Ainsdale Discovery Centre, The Promenade, Ainsdale on Sea, Southport.
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