Following the success of last year’s Parkgate Raptor Watches, the RSPB is hosting another series of events in the village, offering visitors the chance to see the magnificent birds of prey wintering in the Dee Estuary Nature Reserve.
The first event takes place on Sunday 11 October at 5pm at Old Baths car park in the village, where RSPB staff and volunteers will be on hand armed with telescopes and binoculars to provide visitors with awesome views of the birds over the saltmarsh.
Part of the RSPB’s Date With Nature initiative, the Parkgate Raptor Watches will take place once a month until March 2010 with events happening on 15 November at 3pm and 13 December at 2.30pm. Each free event lasts a couple of hours, with visitors welcome to drop in at anytime.
The RSPB’s Dee Estuary Nature Reserve is a vital wintering ground for many species of birds of prey including the hen harrier, one of England’s rarest breeding raptors. Last winter up to six hen harriers could be seen hunting over the marshes including two stunning grey males.
Hen harrier numbers have been kept low because of illegal killing and disturbance over decades, with problems particularly associated with areas where moors are managed for intensive, driven-grouse shooting.
In 2008, only 10 pairs successfully nested across the whole of England, despite the English uplands having enough suitable habitat for more than 200 pairs.
The Raptor Watch events provide an ideal opportunity to see and learn about these magnificent yet threatened birds plus other raptors including kestrels, peregrines and merlins – our smallest bird of prey. Last year also saw over 30 short-eared owls hunting the marsh.
The RSPB is campaigning to stop the persecution of birds of prey, which the Government has declared as a ‘wildlife crime priority’. Visitors to the Raptor Watch will have the opportunity to sign the Birds Of Prey Campaign pledge in support for an end to illegal killing.
For more information on the RSPB Dee Estuary Nature Reserve, please visit www.rspb.org.uk/parkgate
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