Bird Aware Solent
Helping Everyone to Share our
Shores with Wildlife
What is Bird Aware Solent?
Bird Aware Solent is an initiative
that raises awareness of the
thousands of protected birds
that spend the winter onthe
Solent, so that people can enjoy
visiting the coast without
disturbing wildlife.
A partnership organisation
Made up of 15 local authorities and 4 conservation bodies:
The Bird Aware region
We work across over 250k of coastline around the Solent, from
the New Forest to Chichester and the northern coast of the
island.
The Solent coast is special
Up to 125,000 ducks, geese and
wading birds return here each
winter - many migrating large
distances from the Arctic
10% of the world’s population of
dark-bellied brent geese
Important habitats such as
intertidal mudflats, seagrass
beds and saltmarsh
Vital feeding ground and lifeline
for these birds escapingthe Arctic
winter
Winter bird migration
Many birds travel huge distances from the Arctic
to get here:
Dark-bellied brent goose - 3000 Miles
Birds of the Solent coast
Curlew
Oystercatcher
Black-tailed godwit
Redshank
Greenshank
Lapwing
Sanderling
Dunlin
Turnstone
Ringed plover
Grey plover
Golden plover
Dark-bellied brent goose
Teal
Wigeon
Shoveler
Pintail
Shelduck
Two key species in Ryde:
Dark-bellied brent goose
Small goose from Siberia
Feeds on seaweeds and seagrass
Sometimes seen in nearby fields
Sanderling
Small wading bird
Often seen running along the
waters edge
Rests on the beach at high tide
Special Protection Areas (SPA)
Internationally recognised for their habitat value, particularly for
overwintering coastal birds, which need to be able to feed and rest
undisturbed.
Birds under pressure - a busy coastline
Increase in the number of visitors to the coast
Increase in recreational activities (and diversity)
As the coast gets busier with people, disturbance is happeningmore
frequently and has a greater impact on the birds
What is bird disturbance?
Any activity which prevents the birds from behavingnormally
or naturally such as:
• Feeding
• Resting
Why does it happen?
Often disturbanceis
accidental
Birds are well
camouflaged or in
difficult places to
spot
There is a lack of
awareness and
understanding of
the issue
The impacts of bird disturbance
“Birds fly - so what’s the problem?”
When birds are disturbed it has two main impacts:
1. They waste precious energy in watching or escaping from
perceived threats
2. The lose valuable feeding or resting time
If birds are unable to feed and rest
undisturbed, they may not survive the
winter or make their migratory
journey back to their summer breeding
grounds.
Our Vision
A coastline where peoples recreation does not impact
overwintering birds.
How:
Encouraging people to make small behaviour changes which will
benefit wildlife
Spreading a better understanding and appreciation of the Solent'sbirds
and the threats they face
The Bird Aware Coastal Code
Simple steps we can all follow to help protect ourwildlife:
Look out for birds on the coast
Move further away if birds become alert
Avoid sensitive habitats such as mudflats and saltmarsh
Keep your dog alongside you and away from the birds,
using a lead if necessary
Always follow requests on signs
The Ranger team
Our Rangers engage with visitors to the coast to raise
awareness of the birds and the issue of bird disturbance.
What the Rangers do
Site visits and patrols throughout October - March
• Monitoring
Surveys and data collection
Events - guided walks, presentations
Working with local organisations, groups and other projects
Creating signage and interpretation
Outreach and communications - social media, blogs,
website, magazine articles
Education / schools
How you can help
Don’t be shy! Say hello to
the Rangers if you see them
out on the coast
Help us raise awareness by
spreading the word about
bird disturbance and its
impacts
Follow the Coastal Code to
protect our wildlife and
encourage others to do so