UK dumping ground turned into haven for rare black-necked grebes
A conservation charity in the UK has turned what was once a dumping ground for material dug up during canal dredging into a nesting habitat for two-thirds of the UK’s black-necked grebes.
These waterfowl with thin ochre-golden feathers sashaying away from their ruby-red eyes have an unusual migratory pattern which in the UK sees them arrive in nesting areas shared with black-headed gulls.
One place where the two species timeshare is Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve. In this nearly 1,000-acre wetland, the Manchester Ship Canal Company dumped a substantial portion of the 41 million cubic meters of material dug up during construction of the 36-mile canal which first entered operation in 1894.
In 1979, the company entered into an agreement with the Woolston Eyes Conservation Group to manage the wildlife of the area. In 1986, it was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wetland ecosystems consisting of freshwater pools, reedbeds, willow scrub and rough vegetation between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal.
Since 2021, the site has been extensively improved to bring more nesting birds. Black-headed gulls prefer to build nests on islands, while grebes prefer to build nests next to the gulls for protection.
In 2023, four nesting pairs on new islands produced 15 young. By 2025, 35 pairs of black-necked grebes were recorded, 29 of which nested on the newly restored area — making up 64% of all breeding birds in the UK.
“It is fantastic to see black-necked grebe numbers increasing at Woolston Eyes thanks to the hard work of staff, volunteers and partners,” said Gavin Thomas, ecologist with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
“The rapid growth in numbers shows how effective targeted conservation action can be and is a great example of nature thriving when it is given a chance.”The wetlands have also become home for species of concern including the willow tit, grasshopper warbler and the pochard.
