The homeless
kingfisher?
Spare a thought for the kingfisher this winter A century ago, kingfishers were a familiar and well-loved sight along our waterways. This distinctive, electric blue bird with vivid orange underparts, speeds low and fast above the water. Even a fleeting glimpse is guaranteed to brighten your day. But now these colourful and shy birds are in trouble. Since 1974 the number of breeding pairs of kingfisher has declined to an estimated 3,500-5,500 nationally. For example, in parts of the Nene Valley in Northamptonshire, the number of breeding pairs recorded more than halved between 2003-2013 to just 10. Similar trends are being seen across our three counties. .
Kingfishers need open, steep sided riverbanks where they can nest safely, and unpolluted waterways with a plentiful supply of small fish – a hungry kingfisher brood can demand over 100 fish a day from their parents. Pollution, changes in water depth and speed of flow can result in unsuitable conditions for fish and other food sources. A prolonged, harsh winter can wipe out large populations as kingfishers simply starve to death.
Turn over to find out why our kingfishers so urgently need your support.
Kingfishers flourish in a landscape like this... Shallow, gravelly pools and riffles teem with fish Wildflower meadows reduce chemical runoff into waterways
Steep sided riverbanks provide safe nesting sites
Fallen branches and bankside vegetation create fishing perches
...but this is what kingfishers face today Straight, sluggish waterways support little aquatic vegetation or food sources Making rivers deeper can destroy natural habitat
Cattle eroding riverbanks increase sediment and decrease water quality Non-native, invasive plants overrun riverbanks and block nest sites
We know that given clean water, safe nesting places, plenty of fish and your support, kingfishers can recover Here at the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire, we work on our own nature reserves, with partners and with other landowners to protect special places for kingfishers and other threatened wildlife.
But we can’t do it without your support. £5 a month can help secure the future of kingfishers near you
By managing our waterways and surrounding countryside to protect and enhance wildlife, we can improve kingfishers’ chances of survival. Below are just 4 examples of how your support can help us to do this.
Just £5 a month could help kingfishers by: Protecting riverbanks from cattle erosion by installing stock proof fencing. 6 months’ membership could pay to fence a 5 metre stretch of riverbank. Paying to sensitively clear silt and vegetation from small river channels to expose nesting and feeding places for kingfishers. 12 months’ membership could pay for clearing 10 metres of riverbank. Installing flow deflectors to vary water speed which encourages waterways to ‘snake’, improving conditions for kingfisher food sources. 3 members joining for a year could pay for 1 pair of flow deflectors to be installed. Enabling The Wildlife Trust to campaign against threats to kingfishers’ homes.
Visit www.wildlifebcn.org/kingfisher
Your gift of ÂŁ 5 per month can help secure a better future for kingfishers near you By joining The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire today, not only will you be helping kingfishers, you will also be benefitting all wildlife that the Trust works hard to protect.
You can join online today at www.wildlifebcn.org/kingfisher
Don’t let this be the end of the story for our kingfishers Turn over to find out what benefits you’ll enjoy when you join us
Join us today We are the only conservation charity dedicated to protecting all local wildlife across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. As a member, you will receive: A guidebook to over 120 local nature reserves Free access to our local nature reserves and many events Our full colour members’ magazine, Local Wildlife, three times a year Magazines, posters, handbook and stickers for children
To join visit www.wildlifebcn.org/kingfisher or complete and return the attached form Direct Debit Guarantee This guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire (BCN) will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request The Wildlife Trust BCN to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request. If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by The Wildlife Trust BCN or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when The Wildlife Trust asks you to. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.
The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire The Manor House, Broad Street, Great Cambourne, Cambridge CB23 6DH Registered charity no. 1000412. Company no. 2534145 Illustrated by Christopher Lewis Lee.
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Yes, I want to save the kingfisher and other local wildlife Join us online at www.wildlifebcn.org/kingfisher or complete this page and the Direct Debit form opposite, then simply detach, seal securely and return to us at our FREEPOST address.
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Instruction to your bank/building society: Please pay the Wildlife Trust BCN Direct Debits from the account detailed in this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with the Wildlife Trust BCN and if so details will be passed electronically to my bank/building society.
Signature(s) __________________________________________________ Date_________________________________________________________ Banks and building societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions for some types of account Your financial support could be used to make a Contributing Third Party (CTP) payment to a landfill operator to secure a grant through the Landfill Communities Fund. This enables us to turn every ÂŁ1 that you give us into ÂŁ10 for local nature conservation.
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3 reasons to join today: 1
I want to provide safe, healthy homes for kingfishers near me The Wildlife Trust’s ongoing work improves nesting and breeding conditions for kingfishers and many other species reliant on our local waterways.
2
I want to learn more about kingfishers and other local wildlife As a member you will receive updates on our conservation work and see how your support helps us improve habitat for wildlife. You can also enjoy our informative guided walks, talks and family events scheduled throughout the year.
3
I want kingfishers to be enjoyed by future generations You will be adding your voice to a growing body of people passionate to see our local natural heritage protected into the future.
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