Two senior oystercatchers, aged 41 and 43, have been identified by bird counters in an extraordinary discovery at The Wash Estuary in Lincolnshire, and RSPB Snettisham in Norfolk. These distinctive birds, typically characterised by their black and white feathers, orange bills, and crimson legs, usually have a lifespan of around 12 years. These two, however, have significantly outlasted that average, further highlighting the Wash Estuary’s critical contribution as a principal habitat.
The Wash Wader Research Group (WWRG) authenticated the birds’ ages by examining bird ringing records, revealing that one of the birds was initially tagged as a chick in Weybourne in 1983. Jaquie Clark from the WWRG expressed her amazement at the revelation, emphasising the Estuary’s vital role in accommodating these birds.
Bird ringing, which is coordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), has played an important role in tracking wild bird populations for more than a hundred years. Dr Ellie Leach from the BTO stated that while it is not unusual to encounter oystercatchers in their second or third decade of life, these two are particularly exceptional.
The Wash serves as a home for nearly 26,000 oystercatchers, who rely on its abundantly rich mudflats for nourishment. Jim Scott of the RSPB stressed the international significance of the region and the continued importance of preserving it for these tenacious birds. With such findings, oystercatchers’ longevity records may further impress in the future.
This article has been written using information from original reporting by the BBC.
