On a Tree by a River
Bringing back Willow Tit to the Tame Valley
‘On a tree by a River’ aims to help bring back from the brink one of the most threatened native birds in the UK, the willow tit, in one of its last strongholds in the West Midlands. We want to give local people a stake in its future now and for generations to come.
Working in partnership with the RSPB and the West Midlands Bird Club, the Tame Valley Wetlands Partnership was successful in securing £20,020 via the Severn Trent Water Boost for Biodiversity Fund in 2021.
This project is now complete, however work in the local area continues to create and restore vital willow tit habitat.
The willow tit (Poecilid montanus) was once a fairly common and widespread bird across the UK, but has recently seen a dramatic population decline of 94% between 1970 and 2012. Willow tit are now on the Red List meaning the species is of the highest conservation priority.
Factors such as habitat loss and lack of suitable nesting sites are believed to have contributed to the decline.
Willow tits are highly territorial. To expand its range and increase its population, these birds need more areas of suitable habitat and space for young birds to move into. Willow tits prefer young, wet woodland and typically create a new nest each year in dead wood.
With this preference for younger woodland it’s important to have active management in the area to ensure it stays in optimum condition. By managing the woodland, we can ensure there will be breeding and nesting opportunities well into the future.
The Tame Valley holds a number of nationally important willow tit strongholds with Ladywalk Nature Reserve, managed by West Midlands Bird Club, and Middleton Lakes, managed by the RSPB. The On a Tree by a River project was developed to focus on the Tame Valley as a wildlife corridor and potential route of expansion for willow tit.
Through the project we have enhanced existing sites and created new habitats specifically to improve connectivity between the known territories.
Project deliverables:
Overall the project has enhanced over 10 hectares of habitat via various methods including improving and creating appropriate habitat, creation of additional wet areas and provision of suitable nest sites, such as standing deadwood.
Through extensive surveying of existing and potential sites we continue to better our understanding of why willow tit numbers go up and down the valley. Through citizen science work, it has been possible to determine where to focus activities to get the best outcomes for willow tit populations to expand, leading to more successful breeding pairs.
Working with the local community to increase awareness of willow tits, the value of the river Tame and its riparian habitats has been a key part of the project.
Our valued volunteers were actively involved throughout throughout, helping to deliver all aspects from practical conservation through to appearing in vlogs. We also ran an education programme to give local children an insight into willow tits, rivers and wetlands, resulting in engagement with the conservationists of the future.
Useful links:
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The RSPB continues its work for willow tit populations across the UK through surveys and habitat management.
Visit RSPB website
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The 'Back from the Brink' project, led by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and RSPB, aimed to support willow tit populations in the north of England.
Visit Back from the Brink website
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'Back from the Brink' created a Willow Tit Handbook containing guidance for land managers on improving local habitat for the species
View the Willow Tit Handbook
As part of this project, we worked with local film-maker and wildlife videographer Simon Watts to create a series of mini-vlogs about willow tit and our work to protect their local populations.