A huge number of threatened birds have been spotted breeding on the Humber. Results from a new RSPB survey on the Humber Estuary have shown that 420 pairs of breeding Redshanks have been recorded this year. This means that for the first-time conservationists can demonstrate how important the Humber is for these birds and provides a baseline needed to monitor changes in the populations of this threatened species, according to the RSPB.
Redshanks are on the Amber list of birds of conservation concern and the RSPB said it is committed to conservation techniques to improve the fortunes of this declining species, such as managing England’s saltmarsh and wetland habitats, where they nest and raise their young in the spring and summer between April and July. Redshanks have declined by a staggering 49% from 1995 – 2020 – in the UK, due to a range of factors including the loss of lowland wet grasslands, climate change and changes in industrial farming practices. This new survey work took place on the Humber Estuary in both East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire between April and June this year and results indicate that the Outer Humber supports approximately 2% of the UK population of Redshanks.
The total UK population is around 22,000 pairs and any area supporting over 1% of the population of a species is considered highly important in conservation terms. According to the RSPB Redshanks are seen as a potential ‘canary in the coal mine’ for saltmarshes. Where populations of this on.