Best year on record for waders at Broadland reserve

03/09/2008 15:22:57 August 2008. Wetland birds have had their best breeding year on record at the RSPB's Berney Marshes nature reserve, near Great Yarmouth. The number of pairs of breeding wading birds climbed to an all-time high with 324 pairs of redshanks, lapwings, avocets, oystercatchers and snipe. (This weather has to be good for waders; they will probably start appearing right across the country soon, especially on those areas of rough grass formerly known as cricket pitches.)

Numbers have doubled in 10 years
The number of wading birds at the reserve has more than doubled in the last ten years, thanks to careful management and restoration of vital habitat features. Redshanks have quadrupled in number since 1998, reaching an unprecedented high of 125 pairs. Oystercatchers reached their highest number since records began in 1987, with 16 pairs this year, compared to none in 1987 and just three in 1998. Other wading birds also had a bumper season at the reserve, with 127 pairs of lapwings, 51 pairs of avocets and five pairs of snipe.

Cooperation with Local farmers
Berney Marshes is one of the few areas in the Broads where the number of breeding wading birds is increasing. RSPB wardens have worked in partnership with local farmers and graziers to create ideal conditions for lapwings, redshanks and avocets. By carefully controlling water levels and cattle grazing on the marshes, the wardens have created a mosaic of habitats that are ideal feeding and breeding areas.

The RSPB has carried out research and monitoring to work out the ideal arrangement of habitat features - such as shallow pools and footdrains - that will ensure successful breeding for wading birds. RSPB staff are now working with farmers to demonstrate how they can restore traditional features like footdrains to help birds without compromising their farming practices.