New habitat created for nesting bearded tits

Five bearded tits were spotted at the centre in 2022

A new habitat has been created at a wetland centre with the hope of attracting new nesting birds.

Washington Wetland Centre (WWC) has built domed shelters, known as wigwams, to create dry patches of reed debris around its saline lagoon for nesting.

The centre wants to attracted bearded tits after five were spotted visiting the lagoon at the end of 2022.

Other species known to nest and breed at its reed beds include sedge and reed warblers.

The shelters have been built out of materials from recent habitat management around the lagoon to open the water channel and clear vegetation from the island.

This has reopened the sight lines into the reed bed for bird watchers.

The wigwams have been created using cleared materials from around the lagoon

Wigwams create dry patches of reed debris that bearded tits nest in along with other species, to give them a head start ahead of breeding.

The lagoon is tidal and floods in five-metre tides so the wigwams are placed higher to provide a dry refuge during the breeding season.