Wesley Payne (
W.Payne-2018@hull.ac.uk
) has been in touch with the following message:
I am a researcher at the University of Hull currently working on the preliminary stages of a research project investigating the use of the Humber’s hinterlands by the waterbirds (waders, ducks, and geese) that overwinter in the region.
Many species use areas above the high tide line, outside the protection of the Humber Estuary SPA, referred to as functionally linked land (FLL), and this may have implications for land-management and conservation of SPA populations.
We’re looking to establish which species use the land around the Humber Estuary, when and where they do so, and the habitats they prefer.
Some species will barely use the land outside the SPA, whereas others will travel many kilometres inland.
Our intention is ultimately to make suggestions for management of high-priority areas around the estuary, to increase the value of the land for overwintering birds, as well as working to reduce conflict with the development and agricultural sectors.
I’m contacting you to ask if the Lincolnshire Bird Club has any data (presence/absence and/or counts) for any areas from the high tide line on the Humber to 10km inland, which you would be willing to share with this study.
The proposed project area is very large and any existing data would be incredibly useful in informing the next stage of the project and funding applications.
A full list of species of interest is attached.
Please let me know if you have any questions or if there is advice or data that you would like to contribute toward this project.
