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Annual biodiversity focus 2008/09
As part of our commitment to conserve and enhance biodiversity, each year we choose a particular aspect of biodiversity to focus on. This is rotated yearly between a species, a habitat and work with our partner organisations. Following on from woodlands in 2006/07 and ‘shared learning’ with our partner organisations in 2007/08, our new focus for 2008/09 is on birds.Birds
We have an amazing variety of birdlife on our sites and regularly survey our sites to keep track of the latest interest. The year of 2008 sees the return of the BTO - British Energy Business Bird Challenge which takes place every two years and both Essex & Suffolk Water and Northumbrian Water are taking part (see below for further details).Our ongoing commitment to surveying and monitoring of birds is shown in our sponsorship of the red kite by Northumbrian Water and cormorant by Essex and Suffolk Water for the 2007-2011 BTO bird atlas.
Throughout 2008 we will be taking part in various activities to help improve the bird life on our landholdings and raising staff awareness by organising internal competitions and events. Some of the activities planned include a wader watch, dawn chorus walks, RSPB Feed the Birds Day and national nest box week.
Our involvement as a partner in the reintroduction of red kites and recovery of black grouse are just a few examples of how we are helping to improve the conservation status of birds and both Northumbrian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water will continue looking for opportunities to enhance our sites.
Finally, don’t forget, there is bird life in one form or another on all of our sites, and we have bird hides to visit at Bakethin, Kielder, Scaling Dam Reservoir, Blackton Reservoir, Grassholme Reservoir, Derwent Reservoir, Wear Valley Water Treatment Works and Whittle Dene reservoirs.
BTO – British Energy Business Bird Challenge 2008
This challenge recognises the sensitive management of industrial landholdings across the country, which is reflected in the variety and remarkable number of bird species using these sites.
Every two years the BTO tries to find:
• Sites with the most innovative and effective conservation initiatives.
• Sites which attract the greatest diversity of bird species.
• Sites where there is the most community involvement.
2006 Challenge
In the last challenge, Northumbrian Water created shallow feeding areas for waders, beaches for Little Ringed Plovers and installed an Osprey platform at Scaling Dam.
The Major Wetland Conservation prize went to Abberton Reservoir, Essex & Suffolk Water (Northumbrian Water Ltd), for their targeted work to develop the site for Nightingales and to provide opportunities for terns to nest and for ducks to graze. Abberton Reservoir also came a close 2nd in the number of different species visiting the site.
2008 Challenge
From the Essex & Suffolk region 5 sites will be entered into the 2008 challenge, these are:
• The Trinity Broads
• Lound Lakes
• Abberton Reservoir
• Hanningfield Reservoir
• Langham Water Treatment Works
From the Northumbrian region 2 sites will be entered into the 2008 challenge, these are:
• Birtley Sewage Treatment Works
• Scaling Dam Reservoir
The challenge kicks off from January with bird counts sent to BTO on a quartlerly basis so watch this space as the results start coming in!