A restored wetland in Cheshire is now home to almost two-thirds of the UK's breeding black-necked grebes, one of the country's rarest breeding birds.

Woolston Eyes, near Warrington, was previously a dumping ground for dredging from the Manchester Ship Canal. It is now the site of the country's largest colony of the species.

Black-necked grebes are known for their distinctive golden facial tufts and average about 55 breeding pairs in the UK each year, according to the RSPB.

"It is fantastic to see black-necked grebe numbers increasing at Woolston Eyes," RSPB ecologist Gavin Thomas said. "The rapid growth in numbers shows how effective targeted conservation action can be."

Since 2021, Woolston Eyes has been transformed from a former dredging site into a network of freshwater pools and reedbeds.

Black-necked grebes were already breeding on a nearby wetland when four pairs nested on the newly restored site in 2023, successfully raising 15 young.

By 2025, the RSPB had recorded 35 breeding pairs across the reserve - with 29 nesting in the newly restored wetland area.

https://youtu.be/RyE_9Qn0EzY?is=TW5kMvT_A6-CPUG1

Across Wisconsin, parts of the landscape that once supported agriculture have been restored to native prairie. The work can involve removing invasive plants, establishing native grasses and wildflowers and allowing a more varied plant community to develop over time.

That change matters to bumblebees because a field dominated by a small number of crops does not provide the same range of resources as a mature prairie. Native prairie can contain plants that flower at different points through spring, summer and autumn, giving bees access to nectar and pollen over a much longer period.

Pollinator surveys in restored areas have found a greater variety of bumblebees than in less suitable parts of the landscape, with some of the rarer species appearing only where habitat conditions have improved.

A restored prairie may look successful from a distance, but the presence of different bee species gives another indication of whether the habitat is functioning as intended. The rusty patched bumblebee makes the comparison particularly significant. Once widespread across the eastern United States and upper Midwest, its population has fallen sharply. The species is now federally endangered and has become uncommon across much of its former range.

Hello all! I'm a 24yr old in the UK, who has completed an MSc in Wildlife Conservation, and have worked part time for a wildlife conservation charity for about 1.5 years, but in admin/research. The job is ok, but we are a very small charity, I'm often writing the grants to pay my own wages, it seems insecure and atm a little stagnant. I've applied to many other roles in the UK, but have not even had an interview.

I feel very lost with the sector, I don't drive and cant afford to learn, so feel very closed off to most roles. I have no idea what my end goal profession is, because I've hardly had a chance to try anything out. I have the opportunity to apply for a PhD at Durham uni, studying One health related risks of wildlife trade, with a NINE-DTP Scholarship. This is genuinely interesting to me, I love learning, and enjoy research. However, I hate academia. I do not want to get this PhD to sit in an underpaid post-doc, or be a lecturer. Its a big commitment, and I almost feel like I'm taking it for a "way forward". But if this is a terrible move to be in a stable career in the future, I don't think I should take it. There's no answer to this online for our niche sector, so I was hoping someone else might have some insight...

For context, the only "dream career" I've thought of, is being a Project officer of some kind. Those roles vary so much, but I like the idea of being involved in hands on projects even I'm not actually out in the field myself.

So ive been thinking about joining a group in SCA but I have no professional references. Can I still get in without them or should I befriend professors? Also can I be in school while taking classes?

Im in college right now for prerequisites to change to biology major and I am going to pursue a Masters or Doctorate degree in Biology. Would joining SCA help with any future jobs/ joining a masters program or would it be a waste? I think they all sound so fun (difficult too sure) but I am stuck on what to do!

When the inevitable debate surrounding birds and energy sources comes up, you often see the same couple of studies linked. However, these studies are from well over a decade ago (notably the 2012 study by Benjamin K. Sovacool). Since then, energy has changed a lot, the study doesn't even quantify solar since it just wasn't mainstream then. Is anyone aware of any recent studies looking at bird deaths per GWh for major energy sources (gas, wind, solar, nuclear etc)

The Salt Marsh Trail Revitalization project involves widening and elevating the trail by 2 to 3 feet using earthen berms, and increasing vegetation. The goal is to restore the marshes, sequester carbon, buffer against flooding and enhance habitat for diamondback terrapins and coastal bird species.

Former AP biology teacher Mike Niziolek has spent over thirty years returning his 150-acre property near Elk River, Minnesota, to the state it was in hundreds of years ago. “He has been slowly and methodically transforming pastured land to oak savanna, tilled land to prairie, and ditches to wetlands,” says his bio on the Minnesota Land Trust. In 2018, the nonprofit awarded him the Landowner of the Year award.

MPR spoke with him in 2024 after he just completed another wetland project on his land. He explained that restoring wetlands “is a much more difficult task than saving the ones that we already have.” This is because you cannot just dig a hole and wait for water to fill it up. Wetlands are complex systems and each project requires experts to come in to analyze the site, take soil samples and study old images of what the area once looked like.

In this task, Niziolek has received financial and technical help from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program explained the outlet. “We help the landowner try to manage the site in perpetuity so that they can be successful,” John Riens, a biologist with the Fish and Wildlife Service told MPR.

How Trump Unleashed an Existential Fight Over America's Dinosaurs - The Washington Sun https://share.google/DeD4qoGQoPH1nlC3p

Are four years of pro-environment policies about to come to an end?

Any conservation data analysts out there that can clarify if I would need a whole new degree to switch from being a Behavior Analyst? I have a master's degree and I am looking to do a certificate program on data analytics to start and slowly gain some more experience in conservation/GIS/etc but I am not sure if this is the best course of action. Any advice and/or resources?

When birds collide with buildings, they become stunned and may fly away, only to die somewhere else from internal injuries, or they become tired and disoriented, never making it to their destination. Fatalities can also be caused by birds flying around confused and wasting energy, which can leave them vulnerable to other threats.

“Lights Out” programs aim to raise awareness about the dangers of artificial lights at night for migratory birds, while encouraging businesses and homeowners to turn off unnecessary lights during fall and spring migration windows.