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Love is in the air!
Last modified: 06 February 2012
The 'Love Birds' trail will help families to get a special insight into the lives of birds and find out the different ways that birds attract a partner.
It is that time of year, spring is just round the corner, Valentine’s Day is looming, and the birds are in the mood for love.
During the February holidays, the team at RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve are encouraging children and families to go along to the reserve, in Silverdale, to take part in their ‘Love Birds Trail’ and other family events.
The ‘Love Birds’ trail will help families to get a special insight into the lives of birds and find out the different ways that birds attract a partner. There may even be a chance to witness this behaviour whilst visiting the reserve, like the male goldeneye duck who contorts himself as he flings his head back in a peculiar display to ‘the ladies’, or listen out for the male robin singing his heart out to mark his territory and to entice a female friend.
Beki Williams, Volunteer Visitor Officer Intern says: “The Love Birds trail is a fun activity for all the family and gives children of all ages a chance to explore the reserve and find out more about the amazing wildlife at Leighton Moss. You don’t need to know anything about birds to take part, all the information you need is included in the trail.”
The Love Birds trail runs from Saturday 11to Sunday 19 February, 9.30 am to 4 pm. The cost is £10 for a family, or free for RSPB members. The Love Birds trail is just one of the great family activities on at Leighton Moss this half term. ‘Walk on the Wildside’ is a family guided walk on Tuesday 14 February, 10.30 am to 12 pm. The walk will take families through the reserve looking at the first signs of spring, and will also follow the Love Birds trail. The ‘Ramble in the Reeds’, on Friday 17 February runs from 11.30 am to 1 pm or 1.30 to 3 pm, is a free guided walk which will take a closer look at the amazing reedbed and search for some of the brilliant wildlife that lives there.
As it is National Nestbox week during half term, there will also be ‘Nestbox Making’ on Thursday 16 February. All tools and tuition is provided and each box taken home costs £7. Pre-booking and payment is essential for one of two workshops, 11.30 am to 1 pm or 1.30 to 3 pm. Adults can make their own nestboxes too, just let the reserve know when you book.
Beki Williams continues: “Our range of family events are a great way to entertain the kids over half term, we are really keen to encourage children to spend more time outside, especially at places like Leighton Moss, so we can show them how amazing nature is, and hopefully inspire them to join us in looking after it for the future.”
For more details on all these events and to book on ‘Ramble in the Reeds’ and ‘Nestbox Making’, please call the reserve on 01524 701601 or check out the website www.rspb.org.uk/leightonmoss.