Geese, cranes, bat roosts & spoonies

Today I'm feeling pretty sad - it's my last day as a science intern at WWT Slimbridge and I'm packing up my room in the volunteering hostel. It's been a brilliant 5 months living on a reserve and being submerged in the life of an NGO research group. It has been very different to any research I've conducted before - focusing very much on behaviour and how this can be utilised in identifying priority conservation areas on large scale projects eg. the LIFE Bulgaria Red-breasted goose project and the common crane re-introduction project. It has been great to see how a research group operates outside of a university setting, and seeing how much can really be achieved in terms of direct application of the research eg outcomes being sent directly to the European Commission to advise on where development should be avoided on geese wintering grounds, or directly influencing how habitat is managed such as breeding areas for Common cranes. It's especially impressive since the team is so small! It's a tight knit team here, with a lot of interaction between individuals across research, reserves and conservation, making for a very pro-active environment in conserving wetlands and their species. It's been awesome having the chance to witness this first hand.

Witnessing the wetland change (Top: January, Bottom:April)

Not only has the research being really interesting - but just the act of living on a reserve has also been an experience not to be forgotten. It's been hard not to take for granted waking up to the sound of geese, being able to hear cuckoos from the hostel window, hearing the unmistakable calls of the cranes, seeing the wetlands change, finding bat roosts, or in the captive area having the otters playfully follow me as I walk past. 

My crane monitoring desk: not bad a view I guess!

Yesterday was my last day and whilst being sad, it was a pretty awesome day. It began by checking the GMS moth traps. Low and behold we finally caught more than about 5 moths AND we were treated with a Herald and Poplar Hawkmoth - both impressive moths and a great start to the day. Next was a surprise team meeting with cake, lovely presents and a speech, followed by a tour of the Peter Scott House. Peter Scott was the founder of WWT, which in itself is impressive enough but to be honest the man was super human in his accomplishments. He was also founder of WWF, involved in the beginnings of the IUCN Red List, policy for International Whaling Commission as well as being a well known artist and sportsman.... It kind of makes it hard for anyone else to feel accomplished in their conservation achievements, but is definitely someone to look up to. The house has largely been left as it was - all the original books in the library, paintings everywhere, an original still in its easel, all the original bewick paintings bound, the panda painting that then became the WWF logo, visitor book with messages from the queen, prince Phillip, Rolf Harris...

A team lunch was then had at the local pub followed by the grande finale - I had been granted permission to visit spoony land!!  Spoonbill sandpipers are critically endangered, with less than 100 pairs in the wild. Slimbridge has a captive population of 24 individuals - the majority of which came as eggs, and some of which are now in mating pairs.  Very promising signs have been had this year - with breeding plumage, nest scrapes and mating calls being heard. The reason for my visit being granted (since very few people are allowed access) was to set up an acoustic monitoring device to allow the aviculture team to start to understand the different types of calls given. They are beautifully tiny little birds and was an awesome treat to have on my last day.  Check out the spoon-billed sandpiper project website here.

So all in all I just wanted to reflect on a great experience had with WWT and to thank everyone I've had the pleasure to work (and live!) alongside this year!

The Hostel wall - each bird painted by a resident volunteer