Survey shows importance of Wirral’s wildlife waterways

Aug 3 2011 by Jade Wright, Birkenhead News

A NEW survey has revealed just how important the UK’s coastlines such as the Dee and Mersey estuaries are for the world’s migratory waterbirds.

The team of experts from the British Trust for Ornithology, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, RSPB and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust estimated that 12.5 million waterbirds used the UK’s wetlands during the five winters up to 2009.

The huge figure – more than 25 times the population of Liverpool – included up to 85 different species.

The Cheshire Wildlife Trust says the report further emphasises the importance of our coasts and estuaries, in light of the recent shelving of plans for a tidal energy scheme on the Mersey.

“What this survey shows is that our coasts and inland waterways are as vital to birds as any international airport hub such as Heathrow or LAX is to those of us travelling the globe” says the Trust’s Planning & Advocacy officer Paul Corner.

“We already know that the Mersey estuary in particular is the number one site in the UK for moulting shelducks - a critical phase in any waterbirds’ life-cycle where for a brief period it is unable to fly so relies on areas of safe refuge.

“Estuaries like the Dee and the Mersey bring an added benefit over inland wetlands due to their dynamic and constantly changing state which means that even in the severest of sub-zero winters they largely remain clear and hold open water. For wading birds like dunlin, curlew or redshank this may be the last place in the region they have to find food.”

The survey bolsters almost 450 areas in the UK specially designated for birds including 147 Ramsar sites and over 250 Special Protection Areas (SPAs), with parts of the Mersey estuary already covered by SPA status due to the annual wading bird populations.

The report also highlights an increase in once scarce species such as the little egret and avocet which, are now ‘wintering’ in greater numbers.

Paul Corner added: “With such a clear demonstration of how crucial these places are in the journeys of species from as far afield as Canada, we must make sure that natural resource harness from wetlands like the Mersey estuary is done with the effects on waterbirds at the top of the agenda.”