June 2012. Conservationists will attempt to give dozens of Critically Endangered spoon-billed sandpipers a head-start this summer, by hand rearing them for the first weeks of their lives in Russia.
The new strategy is part of an ongoing international conservation effort that stretches from the coast of Bangladesh and Burma to the Russian Far East, and even has an outpost at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire.
Burma hunting
Evidence from Burma points to the success of efforts to stop hunting. This news has encouraged conservationists to take this unusual step at the birds' breeding ground 8,000km away in Chukotka in the Russian Far East.
Evidence from Burma points to the success of efforts to stop hunting. This news has encouraged conservationists to take this unusual step at the birds' breeding ground 8,000km away in Chukotka in the Russian Far East.
Just 100 pairs left alive
Spoon-billed sandpipers are estimated to number as few as 100 pairs and subsistence hunting in coastal Burma and Bangladesh is believed to be the most immediate threat to their future. A series of micro-grants over the last four years have helped villagers buy nets and boats so they have an alternative livelihood. This spring, an expedition to Burma confirmed that bird hunting is being addressed successfully.
Spoon-billed sandpipers are estimated to number as few as 100 pairs and subsistence hunting in coastal Burma and Bangladesh is believed to be the most immediate threat to their future. A series of micro-grants over the last four years have helped villagers buy nets and boats so they have an alternative livelihood. This spring, an expedition to Burma confirmed that bird hunting is being addressed successfully.
Evgeny Syroechkovsky, Chief Executive of Birds Russia, said: "With the most immediate threat to the birds' future being tackled, giving this generation a head-start should help increase numbers returning to the breeding grounds in two years' time."
Hand rearing may hugely increase chick survival
Conservationists travelling to the spoon-billed sandpipers' sub-Arctic breeding grounds are confident they can increase the birds' productivity several fold. Surveys from the last few years show that just 0.6 birds fledge from each nest of four eggs on average. Experience from last summer has shown that experts can successfully raise at least three per nest over the same period by hand-rearing. Added to this, it is hoped some pairs will lay a second clutch that they will raise themselves.
Conservationists travelling to the spoon-billed sandpipers' sub-Arctic breeding grounds are confident they can increase the birds' productivity several fold. Surveys from the last few years show that just 0.6 birds fledge from each nest of four eggs on average. Experience from last summer has shown that experts can successfully raise at least three per nest over the same period by hand-rearing. Added to this, it is hoped some pairs will lay a second clutch that they will raise themselves.
Nigel Jarrett, Head of Conservation Breeding at WWT, said: "We took eggs into captivity last summer, and the birds we hatched are the genesis of a conservation breeding programme, should it come to the worst. But while last year was a step into the unknown in one of the most remote parts of the globe, this year we hope to achieve even more."
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