20 January, 2015
Free wetlands walk at Loch Leven
A free wetlands walk showing off Loch Leven’s spectacular wildlife takes place on Sunday, 1 February.
To mark World Wetlands Day, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) staff will lead a guided walk, taking a closer look at the amazing variety of wildfowl at the national nature reserve.
World Wetlands Day marks the anniversary of the Ramsar convention, which was established 41 years ago to protect wetlands internationally with 21 countries as signatories. The convention has now been signed by 163 countries. Every year, February 2nd is celebrated globally at various Ramsar sites, recognising the importance of wetlands globally for people, wildlife and our environment.
Loch Leven is one of Great Britain’s most important Ramsar sites, with international populations of wintering wildfowl, including globally significant populations of pink-footed geese, whooper swans, tufted ducks and coots, to name but a few. The loch is also proving to be very popular with recently reintroduced white-tailed eagles through the winter months, and the loch shore and tributaries are often used by otters and kingfishers in search of food.
Craig Nisbet, SNH reserve officer at Loch Leven, said:
“Loch Leven is such an important place for migratory wildfowl, so come along and learn more about this special spot – and help us to look out for some of the winter visitors that makes the loch a hotspot for birders and naturalists the world over.”
The walk is free, but booking is required by calling the reserve office on 01577 864439. It takes place from 10am to 1pm, and stout footwear, waterproofs and binoculars are recommended. The walk will begin at the reserve office on the Pier at Kinross.
For up-to-date news and information on geese and other goings on at Loch Leven NNR, visit www.lochlevennnr.wordpress.com. Click the ‘Follow’ button and receive blog update emails each time they’re published.
ENDS
MEDIA QUERIES - For more information, contact SNH press & public relations officers for Scottish Natural Heritage, Vicki Mowat on 0131 316 2659 or vicki.mowat@snh.gov.uk (Tues-Fri), or the SNH main press officer on 01463 725 022 (Mon).
Loch Leven National Nature Reserve is one of about 50 NNRs in Scotland. NNRs are special places that look after some of the best of Scotland’s nature on behalf of everyone who lives or visits Scotland, and they provide unique opportunities to visit, enjoy and learn more about Scotland’s nature. For more information, see www.nnr-scotland.org.uk.
Contact information
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NatureScot is Scotland's nature agency. Responding to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, we work to protect and restore nature by inspiring everyone to value our natural world. Our goal is a nature-rich, net-zero future for Scotland. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot
'S e buidheann nàdair na h-Alba a th’ ann an NàdarAlba. Bidh sinn a’ gleidheadh agus a’ slànachadh nàdar le bhith a’ brosnachadh a h-uile duine gu spèis a chur air an t-saoghal nàdarra againn, agus sinn a’ freagairt air an dà chùis-èiginn de chall bith-iomadachd ’s atharrachadh na gnàth-shìde. ’S e ar n-amas nàdar beairteach ’s cothromachadh carboin do dh’Alba. Airson an tuilleadh fiosrachaidh, thoiribh sùil air an làraich-lìn againn aig www.nature.scot
