The Bird And Recreation Initiative, also known as BARI (pronounced Barry!), has been set up to protect these important bird species and their habitats. The SPA spans the whole harbour from Studland to Sandbanks and provides these precious habitats and species with some much needed protection.
With a growing population living in Poole Harbour, there is a growing pressure on their habitats, but it also means there are more people to champion wildlife-friendly adventures and help harbour birds thrive, not just survive. We all help to make a difference!
Lets Keep Poole Harbour Wild For People And Nature
MEET THE BIRDS OF BARI
Here are some of the incredible birds that thrive in Poole Harbour arbour wild.
Breeds: Mainland Europe
Winters: UK
Food: Insects, small fish
Look out for: Large spoon shaped bill and large white body
Breeds: Iceland / Europe
Winters: UK
Food: Shrimp, small fish, insects
Look out for: Long, bright orange red legs
Breeds: UK
Winters: South Africa
Food: Fish
Look out for: Orange red beak and grey wing tips
Breeds: Iceland
Winters: UK
Food: Insects, crustaceans, worms
Look out for: Dark upturned bill and long greenish blue legs.
Breeds: UK
Winters: West Africa
Food: Fish
Look out for: Yellow tip on long black bill and a black cap
Breeds: Iceland / N. Russia
Winters: UK
Food: Insects, molluscs, crustaceans
Look out for: Tiny bird with thick black bill and dark belly in winter
Breeds: Iceland
Winters: UK
Food: Insects, worms
Look out for: Long bill with dark tip and long legs
Breeds: Arctic Siberia
Winters: UK
Food: Eelgrass, algae, saltmarsh
Look out for: White neck stripe and dark belly.
Breeds: UK
Winters: Mediterranean
Food: Insects, fish
Look out for: Dark black hood and white wing tips
Breeds: UK / Europe
Winters: UK
Food: Small fish, insects, crustaceans
Look out for: Long black legs with yellow feet and long black beak
Breeds: Germany
Winters: UK
Food: Invertebrates, shellfish, insects
Look out for: Large duck with broad red bill and Chestnut breast band
AMAZING MIGRATIONS
In the winter, Poole Harbour supports around 30,000 rare and protected bird species. Flocks this size are internationally important which is why Poole Harbour is designated as a ‘Special Protected Area’ (SPA). The harbour is situated perfectly for summer and winter birds plus it is an essential stop over spot for passage migrants to rest and refuel on route to their final destinations.
Next time you’re out take notice of the shoreline and if the tide is low, you’ll see birds feeding.
In the winter you’ll see Black Tailed Godwit from Iceland, Redshank from Scandinavia, and Dark Bellied Brent geese from Arctic Siberia have flown arduous journeys to feed in Poole Harbour!
In the summer many birds migrate from countries like West Africa in the southern hemisphere to breed and rear their chicks. They come here for our temperate summers and migrate south in the winter.
GLOBAL THREATS
At certain points along a birds migration they must stop over to rest and refuel. When we see these species we call them passage migrants. The arduous migration alone would be enough to push a bird to their limits, however they face additional challenges. Increasing urbanisation means increased disturbance and reclamation of flood plains removes important habitats. They also face sea level rise causing coastal squeeze and the perilous threat of hunting that still exists in many countries along their flyway.
When you see a migratory bird in Poole Harbour you are witnessing a the result of persistence, instinct and tenacity! It’s a miracle of nature and something to celebrate and protect!
SPECIAL HABITATS
Poole harbour is known as a coastal lagoon made up of mudflats, saltmarsh and reedbeds. Salt marsh is boggy marshy soil that salt tolerant grasses can grow on. Reedbeds are dense areas of reeds that have grown beside the open water as they can withstand being submerged.
Both these habitats provide amazing roosting (resting) areas that are safely away from terrestrial predators, such as hedgehogs and foxes. Humans and dogs are also perceived as predators, by birds and other wildlife.
Mudflats and sandflats are revealed when the tide goes out; these areas are packed with marine insects, crustaceans and worms, which are all nutrient-dense foods for wading birds. In each layer of mud lives a different type of food source, and the birds’ beaks vary in length and shape depending on what they eat and how far down in the mud they need to probe for their food. The small fish that live here provide food for fish eating birds like little egrets and redshank.
What does a Coastal Engagement Warden do?
