Appeal to raise £35k for new heronwatch cameras

The cameras allow the public to watch breeding herons that nest in Ellesmere

An appeal has launched to raise more than £35,000 to fund a new camera system for a birdwatching project.

Ellesmere heronwatch has been running for more than 30 years, using cameras in trees to watch the nesting birds on an island on the Mere lake.

The current cameras were installed 10 years ago, with many now broken due to being exposed to the elements, or record in bad quality due to their age.

"We're hoping now to replace the entire video system, so that we get a much better quality, and we can study many more nests," said volunteer Edward Bevan.

"It's fabulous, every year is different," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"We have seen all manner of things. Hatching, chicks fighting each other. They're very aggressive and determined to make their own way."

The volunteers are looking for £35,791 in total, which would cover a new system of cameras, plus installation, as well as two cameras that could be operated by the public, and two nest box cameras for small birds.

Mr Bevan said their goal was to reach the target and have the new cameras installed this autumn, ready for the 2025 breeding season, which begins in February.

The birds nest on Moscow island on the lake, which is not accessible to the public.

Cameras are put up by tree surgeons every year, pointing at existing nests that the herons reuse each season.

But, due to the lack of cameras, volunteers have to guess which nests the birds may use, and the equipment cannot be adjusted after installation.

"It's tremendously difficult equipment to put up," said Mr Bevan.

"By having multiple cameras, if one or two [nests] are not used, we've still got other cameras to look at," he added.

"If you only had one camera on one nest, excuse the pun, but you've put all your eggs in one basket."

More than £5,000 has been pledged since the launch of the campaign.