Project boosts ringed plover population in northern isle

The initiative was arranged by the Alderney Wildlife Trust in partnership with the island’s States and saw four cordoned-off areas established across the island.

Alderney’s ringed plover population is the last in the Channel Islands and this year has seen a record number of the birds fledged – raised to the point where they developed flight feathers.

AWT reported that all of the pairs of birds that nested inside the cordons hatched out their eggs and reared their chicks, but those that nested outside the cordons did not hatch any eggs.

Nests inside the cordons survived three times longer on average than those

outside.

Nine chicks fledged from six pairs of birds, which was the most since detailed observations started in 2017.

AWT counted 15 nests and 50 eggs, which it said suggested the birds may be

becoming more trusting of the cordoned sites.

It said there were few incidents where people entered the cordons and islanders actively avoided the nesting zones.

‘This success would not have been possible without the backing of Alderney’s community,’ said the AWT.

It hoped there will be similar success in 2023 and plans are being prepared to continue the scheme.

Ringed plovers are a type of short-legged wading bird. It is brownish grey above and whitish below. It has an orange bill, tipped with black, orange legs and a

black-and-white pattern on its head and breast.

There are more than 5,000 breeding pairs in the UK.