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Rare Waders Successfully Breed in London

01/11/2006 00:00:00 news/AvocetsandchicksJustindeVilleneuve2006medium

Four rare Avocet chicks hatched on 17 June 2006 at the WWT London Wetland Centre in Barnes, South West London – the closest breeding location to central London since records began.

Avocets, which became extinct in Britain in the nineteenth century (before re-colonising in the 20th Century), are extremely rare breeders inland, preferring coastal salt marshes and estuaries.

WWT Reserve Manager John Arbon explains: ‘Avocets usually breed on salt marsh and estuaries. We have always had Avocets visiting the London Wetland Centre but thought it was unlikely they would breed here as it is so far inland. But this year a pair kept revisiting the site and eventually chose to nest. Three weeks ago they laid eggs and we have been monitoring them closely ever since. To have Avocet chicks hatch in London is amazing.’

Avocets in London, quick facts.

The Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) is a large wading bird with snow-white, patched black, plumage. It frequently swims and when doing so will up-end like a duck to obtain prey. It has a distinctive sweeping action with its upcurved bill when feeding.
The Avocet became extinct in Britain in the nineteenth century but has recovered in the twentieth century, with substantial increases between 1970 and 1990. It is now considered stable in the UK, although it is very rare for it to breed in London.
The Avocet chicks at the WWT London Wetland Centre are only the second recorded breeding in London (Kempton Park was the first recorded breeding in 1995). It is the third recorded hatching of avocets inland in this country.
Avocets nest in shallow scrape, with short pieces of stem, roots and leaves of marsh vegetation added to form the rim and lining of the scrape. Clutches are usually of 3-4 eggs, with incubation taking 23-25 days. The fledgling period is 35-42 days.
Avocets were also recently spotted at another Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust reserve for the first time in its history - at the WWT Washington Wetland Centre, in the North East of England.
The WWT London Wetland Centre is open from 9.30am-6pm (last admission 5pm in the summer). Admission prices are £7.25 for adults, £4.50 for children, £18.50 for a family ticket and £6 for concessions.

The fact that the adult birds should choose to nest at the WWT London Wetland Centre demonstrates just how successful wetland creation and restoration projects can be in supporting rare wetland wildlife. The 100 acre reserve is one of the best wildlife habitats in the country attracting more than 180 bird species, 9 species of bat, more than 450 species of moth and butterfly – and it is also a stronghold of the increasingly endangered Water Vole.

Visitors to the centre should be able to see the Avocet chicks and parents until they fledge towards the end of July.

Avocet at WWT London. © Justin de Villeneuve/WWT.

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