Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands trust
 

Hi Vonnie,

Have been to slimbridge a couple of times, do agree that the some birds seem fairly tame, not sure if that is because they feel safe or not?? Helps that they are regularly fed by the visitors as well. I suppose if they didn't feel safe there they would not visit?? Thats the birds not the visitors!

Col

Hi Vonnie

the birds that you saw were probably part of the collection. Although those opportunists the Mallards were wild - a good Mallard will always find an easy lunch.
The collection is kept for "scientific study" and they have clipped wings.

Personally I find it bit odd that they actually keep fairly common birds in the collection. Still if it installs a love of wildlife in the visiting children........

The wild birds are easily identified - when you see the signs saying "please don't feed the birds beyond this point" you know they are wild.

Hello Vonnie,

As the responses have already mentioned, the birds are mostly part of a collection and will never be returned to the wild. I am not sure about the study aspect but some of the species are extremely rare and endangered nad the WWT has been one of the organisations at the forefront of maintaining breeding stocks. I have only been to Slimbridge once and they were refurbishing at the time but I have been to Caerlaverock once and Martin Mee several times. The memorable part of the trip to Slimbridge was seeing a harvest mouse walking across the road - my first ever in the wild.

Thank you everyone
 

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We often have news reports of birds that have flown in from various continents around the globe, and occasionally are made aware that other 'regulars' haven't made it, so I had assumed that all the birds were there from choice....Though I was aware the flamingos' were wing clipped, I had strange visions of these flocks happily approaching poachers and the like in their homelands, so I am much relieved.

As for the Mallards Pete, you should see them performing in our local park....lol even the swans have a hard time to keep them from getting every scrap going!! Though as you say, it is a good way to introduce children to the joys of wildlife. Though as our local council see fit to hold massive festival gatherings, with burning of mock Viking boats on the river, and horrendously noisy bands playing (We can hear them two miles away,) along with huge firework displays, and all of these being held between May Bank Holiday and the start of the schools Summer breaks, I am amazed that the birds survivie at all, much less choose to stay there. However stay they do, and the more
nature minded amongst us continue to enjoy their presence in the town.

regards Vonnie

Hi Vonnie. I was down at Slimbridge a couple of weeks ago on the seconed week of my honeymoon and I was amazed to see so many Moorhens that wander around so close to people. Did you see the moorhen that nested on the walkway, the nest was made up a load of Swan feathers, I took some photoes of it but I don't think it would be allowed in the gallery. There were many common wildfowl but also there were the rare ones such as the Freckled Duck and Pink-eared Duck from Australia, they were in an enclosure not easily accessed.
I think it's a great place and I emagine the sights from the hides in the winter would be very productive. My nearest Wildfowl park is Martin Mere and I go there as often as I can.
There will always be people who condemn the keeping of any wild creature but thanks to places like Slimbridge birds like the Ney Ney are brought back from extinction.
tanny