PHOTOS: Giving spoon-billed sandpipers a helping hand

23 Aug 2013

by Saving the spoon-billed sandpiper

Here is a gallery of images from this year’s expedition to headstart spoon-billed sandpipers in Chukotka. Enjoy!

: Male adult spoon-billed sandpiper, shortly after arriving at the Meinypilg’yno breeding grounds (c) Roland Digby

: Release site on the shore of Lake Pikul’ney near Meinypilg’yno, Chukotka (c) Nicky Hiscock

: Young hand-reared spoon-billed sandpiper before release into the wild. You can see the lettered flag on its leg that all the hand-reared birds are given (c) Nicky Hiscock

: WWT aviculturist Nicky Hiscock with the quad bike and Russian-built transporter – the Vezdia Hode (trans: goes anywhere!) (c) Nicky Hiscock

: Roland and Nikolai collecting the first clutch of spoon-billed sandpiper eggs (c) Roland Digby

: This bear looked so like the oil drums it was sleeping next to that the team nearly walked straight past it (c) Roland Digby

: Roland Digby drying a newly hatched spoon-billed sandpiper (c) Nicky Hiscock

: Spoon-billed sandpiper chick, shortly after first being introduced to the release pen (c) Roland Digby

: This male spoon-billed sandpiper produced six fledglings: three that were hand reared and three that he raised himself. His nest was 300 metres from the release aviary and the team watched him rear the young from his second clutch (c) Roland Digby

: A spoon-billed sandpiper fledgling, shortly after release (c) Roland Digby

: Roland, Egor and Nicky weigh the chicks prior to fitting their leg flags (c) Roland Digby

: The rearing aviary and release site Meinypilg’yno, Chukotka (c) Nicky Hiscock

4 Comments

Baz 23 August 2013 at 16:21 Reply

“Roland, Egor and Nicky weigh the chicks prior to fitting their leg flags”

Just look at Nicky’s face in this one. Maybe she didn’t want her photo taken!

Thanks to everyone for thier support for this year’s expedition.

And best wishes to all

Baz
Helena Jefferson 23 August 2013 at 20:12 Reply

What incredible pictures Nicky and Roland. Thanks for all you did for the spoonies and how incredible that the one pair produced 6 chicks with your help!! How marvellous to have a pair nearby so you go to see the true process in the wild. Let us hope the birds all have a safe journey south and arrive safely. I am going to Myanmar with Bird Holidays in January to see them in their wintering grounds.
Welcome home from Helena
Elaine Charkowski 23 August 2013 at 21:29 Reply

Thank you for all you are doing to save the spoon billed sandpipers!!
Ken Tucker (AKA Turnip) 30 August 2013 at 12:04 Reply

Great photos guys. You’re right, Baz, about that photo of Nicky. No wonder that bear ran away if she gave it that look! And Roland – you’re wasting away. You obviously didn’t eat enough pork fat sandwiches. Now you’re home, eat chips and drink beer, man! 😉