Headstarting is a collaborative effort between WWT, BirdsRussia and the RSPB, and occurs as part of the International Arctic Expedition mounted each year by BirdsRussia under the leadership of Dr. Evgeny Syroechkovskiy.

Slimbridge Spoonies: Egg-citing news!

We are pleased to announce that the first eggs of the season have been laid! As you may remember from the previous update, male Pink Dark Green and his female Pink Red Right have been tending diligently to their nest scrape. He has lined it beautifully with thatch, creating a kind of
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Slimbridge Spoonies: Early signs

It wasn’t long after the Spoonies undertook their ‘migration’ to the breeding aviaries before we saw active breeding behaviours! Similarly to the wild Spoon-billed Sandpipers in Meinypil’gyno, the captive birds wasted no time in getting down to business. Some of the Spoonies, bo
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Slimbridge Spoonies: ‘Migration’ and Pairing

The Spoonies have been giving all the right signs and signals that they are ready to pair up and move into their breeding aviaries! Every morning, in recent weeks, the team have been greeted by a chorus of singing Spoonies. Many are reaching full breeding plumage and concentrating on
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Spoonie ‘Red Right’ demonstrating a defensive posture, churring as he does so.

Slimbridge Spoonies: So how do the birds prepare for the breeding season?

Now we’ve finished preparing the facility for the long awaited breeding season, we can keep a close eye on the birds for signs of breeding activity… The first clear indications that the birds are coming into breeding condition is the dropping of their winter feathers. You typically st
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Relaxing as Team Spoonie get down to business! Photo by Jodie Clements.

Slimbridge Spoonies: Preparations for the 2019 Breeding Season

Its that time of year again… The Team are geared up for what looks to be a promising season with the captive Spoon-billed Sandpipers here at WWT Slimbridge. Building on our knowledge and experience with every year, we have entered spring with an open mind and some new ideas. Pro
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