Space for Shorebirds welcomes Katherine Dunsford
I am lucky enough to have spent the majority of my childhood exploring the Northumberland coast. Going to the beach every holiday and weekend in a wetsuit with a bucket for rockpooling sparked a passion for the sea and wanting to do all I can to help protect it. To give me the skills I need to do this, I have achieved a degree in Marine Biology and Oceanography from Newcastle University, and gained invaluable practical experience in habitat management by volunteering with Natural England and Coast Care.
Over the past four years, I have spent the majority of my career working at Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. This stunning part of north Northumberland is an internationally important site for breeding and overwintering birds, so there was never a dull moment! During the summer breeding season, my main focus was on enhancing and protecting sites for nesting shorebirds, including Little Terns and Ringed Plovers. These little birds are extremely susceptible to disturbance, so engaging the public about how small behavioral changes to give birds the space can have a huge positive impact on their breeding success.
Winter saw the arrival of tens of thousands of waterfowl which use the site as an overwintering ground, feeding on seagrass and tiny marine creatures on the mud flats. The cacophony of Pink Footed Geese, Light-bellied Brent Geese, Widgeon and Teal, mixed with the haunting sound of the Curlew and Lapwing is a spectacle to behold. Most of the birds have travelled across the world from their breeding grounds to get to Northumberland, so they need to eat as much as possible to build up enough energy for the return journey the following spring.
In addition to shorebird protection, I have worked on projects to maintain the dune grasslands on Holy Island; mapping and removing invasive non-native plants, managing cattle and sheep involved in an intensive grazing scheme and controlling scrub growth on the dune system.
I have also worked for the Berwickshire Marine Reserve in the Scottish Borders as an assistant reserve manager, working on a range of exciting projects to help protect and enhance the unique marine biodiversity of the coastal waters.
I enjoy being outdoors and experiencing all that Northumberland has to offer. I regularly partake in monthly Wetland Bird Surveys (WeBS), which is a county-wide initiative organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) to monitor bird numbers in wetland areas throughout the UK.
I am very excited about starting my new role as Wildlife Ranger as part of the Space for Shorebirds scheme. I am extremely passionate about the Northumberland Coast and all the animals that call it home. If you see me out and about, please do stop for a chat! Talking to people and raising awareness of coastal wildlife is what we are all about.