The North Isles are an incredibly important landscape for wading birds, like curlew, oystercatcher, and lapwing, among others. Many of these species are struggling to adapt to changes in the land and climate across the UK. The North Isles are an incredibly important haven for wading birds, sitting below the East Atlantic Flyway, along which hundreds of thousands of birds migrate every year!
Papa Westray, get ready for Waderfest! Taking place on 29-30 September 2023, this will be a night and day of of wader related demonstrations, activities, and talks, at locations across the island.
Waderfest is a celebration of the special role which Papay plays for waders, and an opportunity to explore how we can help them to survive and thrive. We’ve got a full day of engaging activities planned, proceeded by a range of interesting talks, from a range of interesting people!
Papay Waderfest will kick off in the evening of Friday 19 September, with a range of talks at the Papay Hostel. There'll be a meal midway through the talks, and plenty of time to grab a drink! The following day will be filled with guided walks, demonstrations and workshops, (as well as lunch!). These will take place across Papay, at Hundland, Clestrain, and North Wick.
Papay Wadefest Line-Up
- FRIDAY 19:15 - Arrive at Papay Hostel
Get a drink and get settled in for the evenings talks.
- 19:30 - Talks begin!
Sophie Smith - Biosecurity for Life, Tom Wells – Wader Habitat Restoration, Alan Leitch – Curlews in Orkney & Colour Ringing Project, Tim Dodman – International Wetland Conservation, Chris Bell - ONWP, Henry Memmot – Evolution of Bird Skulls.
- 21:30 - Light supper served!
This will be be provided for all attendees.
- SATURDAY 09:45 - Meet for guided walk through site at Hundland
This will be an oppotunity to explore the area around Westness and the work which has already been done. It will also include LNCS breeding bird survey training.
- 11:15 Look at restoration work at Hundland
Look at the landscape restoration work that has taken place at Hundland. Including scrape creation demonstration.
- 12:45 - Lunch at the Northern Delights Cafe
This will be provided for all attendees!
- 13:45 - Flail Mower demo at Clestrain
This will demonstrate how flail mowers can be used for creating and maintaining good wader habitat.
- 14:15 - WeBS survey training at North Wick
An oppotunity to learn about wader identification from experts, at a great birding location!
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