Don’t kill our national bird: Dutch object to new Lisbon airport

Wednesday, 19 Feb 2020 10:21 AM MYT

LISBON, Feb 19 — Thousands of people in the Netherlands have signed a petition objecting to the construction of an airport in Portugal that could threaten the black-tailed godwit, the Dutch national bird.

The new airport will be located on the south bank of Lisbon’s Tagus estuary, a nature reserve where the godwits, a threatened species, stop off on their way from Africa to the Netherlands.

“What is the point of protecting the godwits in the Netherlands if they are weakened or even die in Portugal?” says the petition, which has so far been signed by 26,000 people.

Portugal’s environment agency gave the green light for the airport in Montijo last month but said it must take steps to protect wildlife. The project has been heavily criticised by environmentalists at home and now abroad.

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The Black-tailed Godwit rebounds in Sweden

After ten years of conservation efforts, one of Sweden’s rarest breeding bird species, the Black-tailed Godwit, is making a stunning recovery.

In 1758, Swedish botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus named one of the large waders of his native country Scopopax limosa. Linnaeus was famously the ‘father of modern taxonomy’ and it is to him that science owes its two-term, Latin naming system (‘binomial nomenclature’) for living species. In this case limosa derives from limus, meaning ‘mud’ – quite apt for a species biologically equipped to wade through wet grasslands with its distinctive long legs and long bill. And now, exactly 260 years after its Linnean naming, this particular wader – that many will recognise by its English common name, the Black-tailed Godwit - is making a stunning recovery in Sweden following several decades of decline.

The Black-tailed godwit is one of the rarest breeding bird species in Sweden and is Near Threatened globally. Although widespread with a large global population spanning western Europe to Central Asia and Russia, the species’ numbers have dropped alarmingly rapidly along significant parts of its range. The root cause lies unequivocally with the dawn of industrial agriculture. The plight of the Black-tailed Godwit is shared by many other European wading birds, notably the Curlew, Oystercatcher and Northern Lapwing. These species were once a familiar sight around Europe’s farmland but earlier mowing dates are disrupting the breeding season and modern drainage practices are destroying their habitats.

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Conservationists urge birdwatchers to look out for ‘special birds’ after rare eggs hatch in Fenland

Harry Rutter

harry.rutter@archant.co.uk

26 May, 2018 - 08:02

Fifteen rare eggs rescued from muddy Fenland farmland earlier this year in an operation dubbed Project Godwit were hatched by wildlife specialists at Welney.

Rebecca Lee, principal species conservation officer at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), said: “Conditions were so bad that we were concerned that they might not survive.

“A number of the eggs that we did manage to collect were in such bad condition that they resembled muddy potatoes. Thankfully, the majority of these eggs have shown signs of life and many have hatched successfully despite our reservations.”

Ms Lee said: “Flooding forced our ground-nesting birds off important nesting areas and they have been laying their eggs on nearby farmland where mud is widespread and tall crops can hide potential predators.

 “Thankfully we have been able to work together with the landowners in the area to avoid the worst outcome.”

A total of 32 eggs were collected from farmland as part of ‘Project Godwit’- a partnership between WWT and RSPB, which aims to restore the UK breeding population.

The Nene and Ouse Washes in the Fens are the two main breeding sites for black-tailed godwits in the UK.

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Rare black-tailed godwit eggs rescued from farmland after flooding

10th May

Eggs belonging to rare black-tailed godwits have been rescued after flooding forced tens of thousands of birds to nest away from the safety of wetlands.

April downpours forced huge numbers of birds away from the Fens in East Anglia, as the Ouse and Nene Washes became submerged, leaving them having to nest on unsuitable farmland, conservationists said.

Wildlife experts trying to protect the black-tailed godwit, which nests in very small numbers in the UK, discovered clutches of their eggs on nearby farmland, trapped in the mud, they said.

But “Project Godwit” experts who are working to boost numbers of the rare bird, teamed up with farmers to rescue 32 eggs, which are now being incubated at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s Welney Wetland Centre.

Project Godwit, a partnership between WWT and the RSPB, is using a technique known as “head-starting”, in which eggs are collected in the wild and the chicks raised to fledging in captivity to boost their survival chances.

As well as keeping the young birds away from dangers such as predators and flooding until they are ready to take to the wing, the process can stimulate the adults lay a new clutch of eggs, which also helps boost numbers.

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Black-tailed godwit returns to Welney after migration

24 April 2018

A rare bird that was released into the wild after being hand-reared in the Fens has returned from its winter migration, wildlife experts have said.

The black-tailed godwit was one of 26 raised at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) in Welney, Norfolk.

They were released last summer and migrated as far as Portugal for winter.

Conservationists said the sighting was a "wonderful and welcome surprise", as the birds were not expected to return from their wintering grounds this year.

Their release was part of Project Godwit, a partnership between the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the WWT, and aimed to increase the population of black-tailed godwits in the UK.

The wading birds were hatched in captivity and hand-reared by wildlife experts from the charities to protect them from predators.

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First hand-reared black-tailed godwit returns to the UK

The male, named ‘Delph’, is one 26 released into the wild last summer as part of efforts to boost the UK’s threatened breeding population.

A black-tailed godwit released into the wild in the Fens after being hand-reared has returned home from its winter migration, wildlife experts have said.

The bird is one of 26 raised at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) Welney Wetland Centre, Cambridgeshire, and released into the wild last summer, from where they migrated as far as Portugal for the winter.

Their release was part of the Project Godwit efforts by the charities to increase the small, vulnerable breeding population of black-tailed godwits in the UK.

The wading birds were hatched in captivity and hand-reared by wildlife experts from the RSPB and WWT away from dangers such as predators,  in a process known as “headstarting” which aims to improve survival chances and boost numbers.

The male is the first of the group to return to the Fens and has been named Delph after the river bank where he was sighted.

Project Godwit expert at WWT Louise Clewley,  who made the discovery, said: “It was right in front of WWT Welney’s main observatory for everyone to see.

Read more at 

Hand-reared godwits from Norfolk found safe and sound in Portugal

PUBLISHED: 14:39 08 February 2018 | UPDATED: 17:03 08 February 2018

Andrew Stone

Two black-tailed godwits from Norfolk that were among the first ever British wading birds to be released into the wild under a new conservation technique have been spotted alive and well – 1,200 miles away in Portugal.

The birds were among 26 that conservationists hatched and reared by hand before releasing under a process known as ‘headstarting’.

After release the birds joined wild flocks and this is the first time any of them have been outside the UK.

Dutch ornithologists reported seeing the birds among a flock on the Tagus Estuary near Lisbon.

The team from RSPB and WWT behind “Project Godwit” has welcomed the news that their protégés have migrated safely.

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Godwit wins second poll to become Dutch national bird

Society November 18, 2015    

The black-tailed godwit (grutto) has been voted the Netherlands’ national bird by bird protection group Vogelbescherming and radio show Vroege Vogels (early birds). 


The blackbird took second place in the online poll and the common sparrow was third. In total, 41,699 people took part in the vote, with the godwit, a migratory wader, taking 25% of the vote. Some 85% of the godwit population breed in the Netherlands, making it rightly the country’s national bird, Vogelbescherming spokesman Kees de Pater told the Telegraaf. 

‘Within Amsterdam’s boundaries, more godwits breed than in Britain and France together.’

Read more at DutchNews.nl: 

Black-tailed godwit chicks born at WWT Welney

Black-tailed godwit chicks born at WWT Welney. Courtesy of WWRare wader chicks thrill visitors to WWT Welney Wetland Centre

June 2013. Black-tailed godwit chicks are some of the rarest young birds in the country. These chicks hatched on the Ouse washes at WWT Welney Wetland Centre this spring, and they are the only ones in the whole of Norfolk and amongst just a handful throughout the UK. 

5 pairs of black-tailed godwits at Welney

Up to five pairs of black-tailed godwits have nested at WWT Welney Wetland Centre in recent years. These birds rely on very specific wetland conditions provided by sites like the Ouse washes and Lady Fen.

Steve Wiltshire, Warden for WWT Welney Wetland Centre, says: ‘Providing the ideal habitat for these birds is incredibly challenging, so it is nice to see the hard work of the whole team rewarded. The adult black-tailed godwits are long-legged birds with a long beak and a brick-orange plumage making them quite an attractive-looking bird. The smaller chicks look like little balls of fluff following the parents around'

‘The adults make a distinctive alarm call if a bird of prey like a harrier should fly over, they make this call to make the other bird and chicks aware of the potential danger. This also helps our visitors pin-point where they are.'

Dr Nigel Russell, Lead Conservation Advisor for Natural England, says: ‘News that 3 black-tailed godwit chicks have successfully hatched on the WWT reserve this year is a real fillet to all those concerned with the unique wildlife of the Ouse Washes. Keeping the washes in tip top condition to suit this scarce breeding bird requires long-term, targeted management to an established recipe, management supported by a new, ten year Higher Level Stewardship agreement between WWT and Natural England'

‘Our shared goal is to benefit the specialist wildlife for which this corner of Norfolk is nationally and internationally important, so news that godwits have had breeding success in 2013 marks a very welcome start to the agreement.'

Visitors are able to see these beautiful chicks from the hides with the aid of binoculars or scopes. Binoculars can be hired from the centre, so visitors do not need to worry if they don't have their own. WWT Welney Wetland Centre is open 9.30am - 5pm daily through the summer.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/welney-godwits.html