Space for Shorebirds welcomes Ben!
Hello all!!
As I sit writing this post the days are drawing in and the weather is turning as the world outside seems to be shutting down for the winter. While we can hunker down, wrap up warm and get cozy inside our homes, much of our extraordinary wildlife is gearing up for a monumental effort to make it through the colder months. This balancing act of finding food and keeping warm is not just a battle for individual survival but also the survival of the next generation. Animals rely on their energy reserves and body condition to help see them though the physically demanding times of the breeding season, so the following weeks and months are really make or break for many species.
But before the drama and spectacle of this year’s cold season gets into full swing, I would like to take this chance to introduce myself as the newest member of the Space for Shorebirds team. Having recently joined Richard and Katherine, I am looking forward to getting out and about on our beautiful Northumberland coastline and chatting with you all about the amazing species that call this area home.
My background is in marine science, and from this, I have developed a fascination with the coastal environment. It can be dynamic and extreme like no other, yet also tranquil and full of beauty, and the creatures that live there are amongst the most ingenious and resilient on the planet. This fascination led me to study for a postgraduate degree in marine ecosystems at Newcastle University, through which I had the opportunity to undertake a research project investigating how people are interacting with breeding ringed plovers on the shores of Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. It was then, on these rugged Northumberland shores, that I fell in admiration of the courage and tenacity of our many shorebird species.
Since then, I have worked with the RSPB on the vast and ecologically rich coast of the Norfolk Wash, as part of a project tasked with conserving endangered breeding shorebird populations. Recent years have seen sharp declines in the numbers of some species coupled with relatively low breeding success, so action was needed to protect important nesting sites in an effort to halt and hopefully reverse these worrying trends. Working with passionate local communities we were able to spread awareness about these important birds as well as protect nest locations with cordons and were rewarded with witnessing more than double the number of fledged chicks than previous years! And now that summer has come to a close, I have flown in the face of conventional wisdom and migrated back up North to begin what I expect will be an exciting new chapter with Space for Shorebirds.
As I mentioned earlier, this time of year is crucial for our shorebird species, both the full-time residents and the migratory species that depend on our shores to refuel and rest. Therefore, it is important that we give them the best possible chance to thrive so that we can enjoy these amazing birds for many years to come. One of the best ways to do this is simply to give them the space they need to go about their busy lives without being disturbed.
Birds have evolved to view humans (and dogs!) as predators, and while we may mean them no harm, by getting too close we can cause them to expend valuable energy by becoming stressed and flying away. These disturbances also interrupt valuable feeding time and may push them to areas that aren’t as rich in food resources. For species that exist on such a knife edge, these disturbance impacts can be the difference between life and death, especially if it is happening regularly. However, it is possible for everyone to enjoy Northumberland’s beautiful beaches while also keeping our impact on its wildlife to a minimum by following a few simple practices:
- Look out for wildlife – the coast is a special place for nature, stepping onto the beach, especially muddy and rocky areas, is to share their world. You never know what you might see – evocative curlew, charming sanderling or maybe a purple sandpiper just arrived on migration from Svalbard in the artic circle.
- Give birds space – we ask all coast users to give wildlife 40 to 50m of space to allow them to get on with feeding and resting in peace, this is especially important at high tide when much of the beach is covered by the sea, so the birds are pushed higher up the shore.
- Follow any signage or requests from rangers – These can point you towards routes that will allow you to avoid important feeding or roosting areas on the shore and help us all enjoy the beach while sharing it with nature.
By all doing our bit and using our beaches responsibly we can ensure that these beautiful creatures will be around on our wonderful Northumberland shores for many years to come. The awesome wildlife is part of what makes this part of the world so incredibly special, and I can’t wait to meet as many of you as possible on the beach and hear some of your shorebird stories!
Ben Arthur
