Bird scaring at RSPB Lakenheath Fen

[Nick Smith]

Hard to believe but true!!

During a visit to RSPB Lakenheath Fen, last Thursday afternoon, Mrs Smith and I witnessed something quite unbelievable and very disturbing. Whilst way out in the heart of the reserve, at Joist Fen hide, a member of staff came up to us and explained there was about to be a lot of bangs and pops as they try to disperse the Starlings, he apologised for the inconvenience, waving a letter at us explaining the situation. There is a nearby fighter base, RAF Lakenheath, and the MOD has decided that the birds are a danger to aircraft maneuvering, and coming in to land over the reserve. This is the first time we have witnessed the dispersing of birds, but it has been happening for the last few years apparently.



A couple of vehicles drove through the reserve, past the furthest hide overlooking Joist Fen, dropping off 4 or 5 people as they went. 1 of them was positioned about 50 yards behind the hide where we were sitting, where we had, up until then, been enjoying Cranes, Bitterns, Bearded Tits, Herons, Cormorants, Marsh Harriers etc. We sat and waited...



We had witnessed and filmed Starlings arriving in their thousands on a previous trip out to the reserve.



(Watch here: Starling Murmuration - YouTube)



They flocked and performed the usual Murmuration before finally roosting in the reed beds. On that occasion flocks arrived from all directions but flew in at very low altitude, created one or two large flocks until finally roosting after maybe 15-20 minutes. I would say the birds did not ever fly above a few hundred feet if that.



Well the ‘show’ started and I must say I was shocked at the severity of the bird scaring. It began slowly, with the odd firework being shot up about 100 feet, then slowly became more frequent as the Starling flocks arrived, culminating in a crescendo of pops bangs and bird alarms from all corners of Joist fen. The severity of the bird scaring was such that during the 'show' we saw 2 Bitterns fly up out of the reeds, and a pair of cranes startled into the air above their roost site...



The fireworks were not only being fired up into the air to just pop and bang, but some actually had showers of sparks that crackled too. The one person positioned near to our hide was aiming the fireworks behind the hide about 50-100 yards from us but low over the reeds, exploding into a shower over the reeds at very low level so that some of the sparks actually land in the reed beds themselves.



As well as the Starlings being scared, flocks of other birds were being harried out of their wits by this tactic. Countless species were flying up out of the reeds only to dive back down again in fear.



The worst part about this whole affair was the tactics actually appeared to worsen the situation, than if they had just allowed the birds to settle. At the peak of the bird scaring there were a number of planes in the air on their approach paths. We witnessed a large flock of Starlings being scared so much that they flew up high into the air, I would estimate them to be above 500 feet if not higher, possibly even higher than 1000 feet. Certainly much higher than they would usually when coming in to flock and roost. Eventually they disappeared out of sight altogether, very possibly to fields closer to the air base. I am no expert, but I do know that you really don't want flocks of 1000's of birds flying toward your base while you have aircraft trying to land. It seemed to me all they accomplished was to drive the birds away from Joist Fen where they performed the Murmaration elsewhere in smaller flocks. Once again, I am no expert, but it seems to me it would be far better to have the birds in one location and know where they are rather than dispersing them into small flocks over a widespread area. The aircraft can avoid one or two large flocks when they know the location they will be at.



I can't really express how ridiculous it seemed to me and the most ridiculous part about it was a statement a member of staff made when we expressed our concerns for the Cranes and Bitterns etc, which was; 'We have been doing it for a few years now and the birds seem to have got used to it'. There is a great irony in the RSPB spending years, and pots of money, in cultivating a wonderful habitat for wildlife to flourish in successfully, just to scare if off again. I wonder how many more Cranes and Bitterns (as well as many others) there would be at Lakenheath Fen if they stopped this ridiculous procedure!

[King Edward]

Truly bizarre! Thanks for this detailed description of the bird scaring. Looking at Google Maps, the runway seems to run NE-SW, whereas the RSPB reserve is NNW of the base. So it would seem better to have the birds concentrated all in one place, apparently off the direct flight path, rather than dispersing in a panic to multiple locations.

Birds are also quite detectable using radar, so you'd think it would be possible to monitor flocks of Starlings or other birds in real time to prevent collisions.

[shenk1]

If they've been doing it a few years its obviously not working

[MetalMoth]

This is disgraceful. I would suggest writing to the RSPB or ringing them up at Lakenheath Fen to find out why this goes on. To me it does seem a ridiculous tactic to employ. I am a conservationist and ecologist and have never heard of this happening before. It does not sound like a good idea but I would be open to hearing from the RSPB their thoughts on the matter and their justification for doing it.

[King Edward]

A quick search turned up this article here: Starlings pose hazard at Lakenheath

[Adam Cheeseman]

Bird scaring happens at most airports and their surrounds and I would suggest that as Lakenheath is a military base, it will always take precedence over the reserve, particularly as the base has been there longer than the reserve, but not necessarily the birds. I'm surprised that development of the reserve was not quashed by the MOD.

Cheers,

Adam

[MetalMoth]

My main point to query with them would be if they had evidence that their tactics saved birds lives and also did not have a detrimental effect on the other species using the site. Also I would like more clarification on the point raised that maybe the birds don't fly high enough to get caught in the aircraft.

[Adam Cheeseman]

It's usually done to prevent flocks of birds crossing the flight path of planes taking off. I dare say that it's not done for the welbeing of the birds.

Cheers,

Adam

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by MetalMoth

This is disgraceful. I would suggest writing to the RSPB or ringing them up at Lakenheath Fen to find out why this goes on. To me it does seem a ridiculous tactic to employ. I am a conservationist and ecologist and have never heard of this happening before. It does not sound like a good idea but I would be open to hearing from the RSPB their thoughts on the matter and their justification for doing it.

I'd say that Nick answered this in his opening post:

Originally Posted by Nick Smith

There is a nearby fighter base, RAF Lakenheath, and the MOD has decided that the birds are a danger to aircraft maneuvering, and coming in to land over the reserve.

I sincerely doubt that the RSPB want to take these measures, but regardless of what they think, and how effective the measures actually are, I would expect that there is nothing they can do but comply with the instructions that they are given. I would expect that the RSPB have already tried to argue their case (on behalf of the birds).

[MetalMoth]

True. I imagine they probably have tried to fight it a bit but have no choice. It just is a great shame that in areas where wildlife should have priority it does not. The RSPB are the largest and I guess most powerful wildlife charity in the UK and even they cannot work out something with the airbase. I know they should comply as they want to be good neighbours and land share is a problem. But if this tactic does damage to the wildlife it really needs to be revised. I have seen other things like this go on and it appalls me. Especially as I have worked in conservation before. Sometimes I feel maybe people comply too easily .