Bird Aware Essex Coast is an initiative to raise awareness of the birds that feed and breed on the Essex coast, so that people can enjoy the coast and its wildlife without disturbing the birds.
With spring just around the corner, the Bird Aware Essex team are preparing themselves for a busy season as the numbers of visitors coming to our coast dramatically rise with the warming and longer days.
At this time of year when weather conditions are extremely varied, it leaves very little time for shorebirds to rest and feed safely, meaning their energy levels will be depleted. We’re also heading towards the end of winter, when shorebirds start to make their long journeys back to their Artic breeding grounds.
Lea Merclova, Coastal Ranger responsible for Mid Essex, said: “Every time shorebirds birds are flushed or chased; they lose some of the energy which they worked really hard to acquire in the harsh winter conditions.”
Bronwen Paxton, Coastal Ranger responsible for South Essex also commented: “People don’t realise that if this happens twenty times a day, the birds will have exhausted all their reserves. It can have very serious consequences, especially before their long migration.”
To celebrate February Half Term, Bird Aware Essex’s team of Coastal Rangers will be popping up along the Essex coast offering free activities and resources to get people talking about the birds! There will be 4 days of exciting engagement activities taking place between Monday 17th February – Friday 21st February. If you would like to learn more about our coastal wildlife, come and say hello at any of the events below:
February Half Term Pop-Up Schedule:
| Date (February) | Time | Location |
| Monday 17th | 10am – 3pm | Promenade Park, Maldon, CM9 5JQ |
| Tuesday 18th | 10am – 12pm | Shoebury East Beach, Shoeburyness, SS3 9AD |
| Tuesday 18th | 2pm – 4pm | Chalkwell Esplanade, Westcliff, SS0 8HW |
| Wednesday 19th | 10am – 3pm | Western Promenade, Brightlingsea, CO7 0HH |
| Friday 21st | 10 am – 12pm | The Walls, Mistley Walls, Manningtree, CO11 1ET |
| Friday 21st | 2pm – 4pm | Irlams Beach, West End Lane Car Park, CO12 3SF |
Above: Bird Aware Essex team photograph.
From left to right: Leanne Brisland (Project Manager), Chloe Turner (Lead Coastal Ranger), Lea Merclova (Coastal Ranger), Tom Welby (Coastal Ranger) and Bronwen Paxton (Coastal Ranger)
Additional information regarding our project can be found on our website: https://birdaware.org/essex/
