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Snettisham
The pits at RSPB Snettisham nature reserve are an important roost site for tens of thousands of water birds, especially knot, and are nationally important for breeding avocets (between 2 and 2.5% of the UK population). Common terns also nest.
The main threats to Annex 1 bird species are the loss of nesting and roosting sites through erosion of to the lagoons shingle islands and spits, encroachment of vegetation onto the spit and shingle islands, and a lack of control over water levels.
The lagoon ecosystem is also at risk from periodic blooms of blue-green algae, and roosting and breeding birds can be disturbed by unrestricted access for visitors around the site.
Actions to address threats
The fence, which excludes people from the main breeding and wader roosting areas in the lagoons has been replaced to keep disturbance to a minimum.
Nesting islands have been built up by the addition of shingle, and edged with rock to protect them from wave erosion, in order to secure breeding sites for avocets and other Annex I bird species.
The shingle spits have been re-profiled by moving shingle to retain safe breeding and roosting sites for Annex I bird species
The shingle spits have been re-profiled by moving shingle to retain safe breeding and roosting sites for Annex I bird species.
Encroaching vegetation has been removed from islands used as high tide roosts, by a combination of herbicide treatment, brush-cutting, and hand weeding.
Blue-green algae is controlled when it reaches critical levels to prevent release of toxins in the summer months, by deploying barley straw in the lagoons.
All monitoring work is ongoing, this includes taking water quality parameters, salinity readings, lagoon water levels, and monitoring wintering and breeding birds.
Public awareness and information
A series of events are held on the reserve throughout the year, details of which are published in the RSPBs North Norfolk events leaflet.