Tag Archives: birds

Hen Harrier Day comes to Devonshire Green

Sheffield wildlife campaigners brought this year’s Hen Harrier Day to Devonshire Green to raise awareness of illegal persecution that has left the bird an endangered species. According to Natural England, 2018 has been the most successful season in a decade, with 9 breeding pairs, but far short of the 300 pairs the UK could host. Baillor Jalloh reports for Shefield Live!

Record year for Dearne Valley bitterns

The Old Moor wetlands nature reserve in Dearne Valley has reported a record breeding season for one of Britain’s rarest and most elusive breeding birds, the bittern, with three active nests and eleven chicks recorded. The RSPB reserve has been developed as a wetlands habitat over the last fifteen years in a location that was once a post-mining wasteland. Bitterns first nested at the reserve in 2010. Steve Buckley, for Sheffield Live!, spoke to visitor experience manager Danielle Meyer.

Bird and bat boxes installed in Kelham Island

Sixteen bird and bat boxes have been installed at sites in Kelham Island to encourage wildlife to inhabit the area. The initiative is part of the Council’s Streets Ahead programme and has been developed in partnership with River Stewardship Company and Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Stocksbridge project to bring back willow tit

A new project has been launched in Stocksbridge to halt the decline of the willow tit, a resident bird which has fallen in numbers by 88 per cent over the last 30 years. This project is focused on Fox Glen, Pot House Wood and Newhall Wood where there has been a significant population of the birds. South Yorkshire Forest Enterprise Trust will oversee work to encourage recolonisation, including planting trees to provide suitable nesting sites, installing nest boxes, thinning trees to provide open habitat, and undertaking drainage work to provide the damp conditions that willow tits prefer. In cooperation with the Steel Valley Project, the scheme will train local people in countryside management and nature conservation work through volunteering opportunities. It is anticipated that the work will be complete by March 2018. Simon Thake reports from Fox Glen for Sheffield Live!