Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers are currently rearing their young at WWT Martin Mere. This is the first time the birds have been recorded as resident and nesting at the Centre.
The nest is in the North America area in the grounds and you can currently hear the young calling their parents. There is a rain shelter in the area and the nest, a small hole in the poplar tree, is directly opposite the shelter. We are putting up viewing screens so that visitors can watch from a safe distance and not disturb the birds as they fly in and out of the nest.
Centre Manager, Andy Wooldridge, said: “The birds have actually nested in the waterfowl gardens as opposed to the reserve which is a pleasant surprise. When the land was first bought in the early seventies there were no trees, but over the years we have developed a wet woodland area that has now matured and is attracting various new species not only to feed but also to nest. The woodpecker is the latest ‘first’ to arrive at Martin Mere as a direct result of our wetland management.”
The birds first arrived at the Centre early in April when we reported that we had footage of a male woodpecker tapping against the metal cap of a telegraph pole to attract a female mate and it was hoped that he would be successful for the birds to nest.
WWT Martin Mere is open every day from 9.30am to 5.30pm and parking is free of charge. Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58 and M6. The Centre is also accessible via the Southport to Manchester and the Liverpool to Preston line by train from Burscough Rail Stations. Visit the web site http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/martinmere/ to find out what’s on all year round at Martin Mere and the other eight centres.
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