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Fenland Nightingales
supported by Anglian Water

The results of the 1999 Nightingale Survey were mixed. There are areas of dramatic decline, in counties such as Hampshire and Wiltshire, but there are also real Nightingale hotspots where the species is flourishing.

The most positive Nightingale story comes from the eastern edge of the Fens, in the area between Newmarket, Downham Market and Brandon. An area which held only 20 territories in 1980, the year of the previous survey, was found to hold over 150 pairs in 1999. With the support of Anglian Water, we have extended the survey area this summer and collected data on the habitat preferences of the species. This information will be analysed shortly.

There will be several positive outcomes from this piece of work:

• We shall be able to suggest actions to maintain this healthy Nightingale population.
• There will be a joint BTO/Anglian Water Nightingale workshop for conservation charities, land-owners and statutory agencies.
• Anglian Water will be sponsoring a Nightingale habitat management leaflet which will be available in spring 2001.
• BTO staff will develop habitat management guidelines with Anglian Water to encourage more Nightingales to use their sites.

Anglian Water encourages Nightingales, as Andy Brown, the company's Strategic Biodiversity Planner explained:

"We have 39 water extraction, treatment and pumping facilities in this area. Some of these sites already have Nightingales or may be perfect for them and we want to help to preserve this new population by creating the right habitat conditions within and around our sites, as part of our commitment to biodiversity".

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