Predator management has undoubtedly contributed to our success at Kingfishers Bridge. Small numbers of predators can quickly decimate ground nesting species, particularly waders, which have not evolved to deal with such pressures. This is especially true of foxes.
The vast flooded areas of the ancient fens have all but gone following draining for agricultural use. This allows easy access by ground predators which would not naturally be able to permanently inhabit such areas. Raised dry banks for road and rail links make perfect den building sites, which increase the pressures on the wetland habitats nearby. At Kingfishers Bridge a number of techniques are used to try and replicate a species balance more indicative of the ancient wetlands of East Anglia.
A predator fence surrounds the Cam Washes SSSI and 150 acres of the main wetland zone. The fence has a primary structure of stock fencing but with rabbit netting clipped to it reducing the access size to 25mm. The rabbit netting folds out at the base to form a skirt preventing burrowing animals digging underneath. Live electric wires at the top of the netting, and at 15cm intervals above it, deter predators from climbing or jumping the fence. Whilst primarily designed to be a fox deterrent, the fence is extremely effective against all ground predators with the strength to exclude badgers and the fine tolerances to limit predators as small as stoats.
Occasionally some ground predators do still get into the wetland habitats and are monitored by remote cameras to allow us to safely remove or exclude them from the Reserve quickly.
The vast flooded areas of the ancient fens have all but gone following draining for agricultural use. This allows easy access by ground predators which would not naturally be able to permanently inhabit such areas. Raised dry banks for road and rail links make perfect den building sites, which increase the pressures on the wetland habitats nearby. At Kingfishers Bridge a number of techniques are used to try and replicate a species balance more indicative of the ancient wetlands of East Anglia.
A predator fence surrounds the Cam Washes SSSI and 150 acres of the main wetland zone. The fence has a primary structure of stock fencing but with rabbit netting clipped to it reducing the access size to 25mm. The rabbit netting folds out at the base to form a skirt preventing burrowing animals digging underneath. Live electric wires at the top of the netting, and at 15cm intervals above it, deter predators from climbing or jumping the fence. Whilst primarily designed to be a fox deterrent, the fence is extremely effective against all ground predators with the strength to exclude badgers and the fine tolerances to limit predators as small as stoats.
Occasionally some ground predators do still get into the wetland habitats and are monitored by remote cameras to allow us to safely remove or exclude them from the Reserve quickly.
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These cameras also give us a chance to record some interesting behaviour not just of ground predators but numerous other species which use KIngfishers Bridge.
These cameras also give us a chance to record some interesting behaviour not just of ground predators but numerous other species which use KIngfishers Bridge.
Corvids are also controlled at Kingfishers Bridge. Magpies are prolific egg thieves and are controlled through the use of Larsen traps in the spring before wader breeding starts. Carrion Crows, which will predate wader chicks and eggs if they get the chance, are controlled through the use of ladder traps or shooting with silenced rifles. Our control of these predators is the principal reason for so many bird species selecting this site for their secure roosting and breeding, as well as for their higher breeding success.