Welcome to the LDV NNR ringing blog, this blog is designed to share the experiences, findings and tales from a group of dedicated ringers. We specialise in conservation orientated research projects, largely focusing on wildfowl, waders, owls and birds of conservation concern, in and around the Vale of York NNR's.

NB - Whilst the purpose of this blog was initially designed to cover our nationally important wildfowl ringing activities, it now also features wildlife and work posts, explaining how we manage the NNR for both wildlife and people.

For daily sightings please visit our Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ldv_nnr (@LDV_NNR)

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Wednesday 17 August 2016

14/08/16 - Swifts & schools

As mentioned in an earlier post, Cameron has been working hard on a new project involving the local communities, in particular school children, to celebrate the arrival of Swifts each summer, whilst giving them a helping hand along the way. The aim of the project is to get as many people as possible within Wheldrake to put up Swift boxes, due a recent decline in numbers as a result of a lack of nesting sites.

Following a successful meeting with the headmaster of the local school in Wheldrake, Cameron, assisted by Beki, spent a day at the school, starting with an assembly where the children were introduced to Natural England and the LDV. Following the assembly each year group took a turn in a variety of activities involving Swifts, Year 6 were given a selection of flags of countries that Swifts visit in the summer, the children then chose their favourite and copied the pattern on to a Swift-shaped piece of card which will be used to create a wall display. Year 5 had a go at painting boxes that had been specially built at the NNR base, and enjoyed cutting out and colouring in Swift templates. Year 4 designed flags which will be put out next year to celebrate the arrival of our returning birds, and Year 3 spent time bug hunting and learning about what Swifts feed on. Each session finished with a Swift quiz which proved very popular amongst the children.




 

The day was a fantastic success, and since then many parents have been in touch to ask for a nest box – so a massive thank you to Cameron for organising such a brilliant day for the children and really helping to engage them with nature. We are fortunate to work in such a diverse and unique habitat, so it really is important that people in the village enjoy it, and that the local children spend time connecting with nature.

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