For the Black-tailed Godwit, March is all about new beginnings: large-scale migrations and the first signs of spring in the breeding grounds characterise this phase. Right up until the end of March, individual birds were still in West Africa – but the breeding grounds are now gradually filling up. On their way north, the black-tailed godwits cross the Iberian Peninsula and France, often in small flocks Upon their arrival, the tagged black-tailed godwits first gather at shallow waterholes before dispersing across the vast expanses surrounding areas such as the Dümmer, the Lower Elbe and the Netherlands. There, many attempt to reoccupy their territories from the previous year.
The currently low vegetation works in the project team’s favour: colour rings are now particularly easy to read, making it possible to draw conclusions about the survival of individual birds. Staff at the Dümmer have already identified three ringed individuals from 2018.
However, the currently still cool weather in Western Europe seems to be slowing the black-tailed godwits down somewhat. Other species such as the lapwing were quicker off the mark – the first clutches were already observed around 10 March. The black-tailed godwits have now caught up, as the first of their nests was spotted at Dümmer on 1 April.
