Out in all weathers these poor birds are about to be built a shelter on the local landmark known as swan island
The building will be funded by the National Lottery scheme and offer all year weather protection including a heated bed that should help with egg incubation.
The structure will in effect be a raft so that it can survive even the highest tide or river spate.
It's hoped that work on the £500,000 scheme will start soon so it's ready for the breeding season. If sucessful it's hoped that monies can be raised for a similar structure for the ducks and other water birds; eventually encompassing much of the lower river area in a safe structure to protect young birds from predators such as dogs and humans.
It's hoped a further £1.2M can be raised to feed the river birds with grain over the next five years. Without this food the birds would have to forage for themselves.
Some of us remember the days of breadcrumbs, long gone
Aye, it's bloody annoying that one man with his own selfish agenda has devastated the wildlife.
ReplyDeleteThe swans have been coming to the river for hundreds of years and rightly have been wary of humans. Now the swans have no fear of humans and this is not doing them any favours at all.
Add to that all the uneaten waste that he throws into the river on a regular basis he is single handily ruining the ecosystem of the lower river.
The funds should be diverted to the upkeep of the harbour. Having monitored water quality within the basin, I have seen a large increase of nitrites, nitrates and ammonia which seem to peak just after feeding time. This massive increase of compounds has eaten through the piling causing the near collapse of the wall. Also, birds regularly fly in from the surrounding towns for an easy meal increasing the chemicals load released. I think the best option is to promote the eating of wild duck as humans are the obvious natural predator and could quickly restore the natural balance on the river and bring the duck vermin back to sustainable numbers. I believe the Findhorn Wildfowlers are very interested in hunting the harbour area since the hippies in Forres danced and sang them into submission.
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