Please steer clear of wildlife sensitive areas

SPARE a thought for our feathered friends and steer clear of wildlife sensitive areas in Christchurch Harbour.

That’s the message from Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water (BWHW) to users of the harbour, particularly canoeists and sailors.

Mike Rhodes, BWHW’s Property and Recreation Services Manager, has arranged for up to forty distinctive yellow buoys to be placed in small pockets of the harbour.

They mark out areas, which act as important feeding and roosting grounds for wintering and migratory wildfowl and waders. It is hoped the buoys will discourage members of the public from drifting into these areas. 

More than 320 bird and wildfowl species have been recorded in Christchurch Harbour.

Examples of common wintering species include Brent geese, Icelandic black-tailed godwit, widgeon and shelduck.

Resident birds include little egret and water rail while migratory species include avocet, greenshank, roseate tern and whimbrel.

David Taylor, of Christchurch Harbour Ornithological Group (CHOG), said: “One of the biggest problems experienced by birds is being disturbed from feeding or resting.

Councillor Sally Derham Wilkes, Chair of Christchurch Council’s Community Services committee, said: “There are a number of sensitive areas around the harbour.

“We are doing what we can to protect them and I am sure members of the public will want to do the same when they understand the reasons behind the buoyed-off areas.”

The buoys display the words ‘Bird feeding area – please keep clear’ and harbour users are asked to give them a wide berth.