A GROUP of volunteers will be heading out across Morecambe Bay in an effort to contribute towards wildfowl conservation in the area.

The Natural Ambassadors who work with the Morecambe Bay Partnership, will be ensuring that not just ‘parcels’ of oystercatchers, but also herds of curlew, congregations of egrets, prayers of godwit, and a host of other bird species, manage to survive their winter stop-over on the mud flats.

The Natural Ambassadors play a great part in wildlife protection, being the interpreters who bring the birds to life in the public’s eyes.

They informally explain the need to protect the various species of wader and wildfowl that congregate in the area between October and April, and sometimes longer, in a very friendly way, sharing their knowledge without preaching.

Around 225,000 birds pass through Morecambe Bay each winter, with many having endured long journeys from places such as Siberia, the Arctic Circle, Scandinavia and Iceland.

The team of volunteers engages with the public around key sites and explains the importance of not disturbing the birds whilst they are ‘roosting’ – resting or sleeping whilst the tide is in – or feeding when it is coming in, or just going out.

The Natural Ambassadors are also out and about on the coast, giving people interesting facts about the amazing birds that the Bay attracts.

Mike Douglas, who co-ordinates the group on behalf of Morecambe Bay Partnership said: "Our Natural Ambassadors are already out and about talking to people especially dog walkers, who are often the first to pick up on what’s going on and have huge amounts of local knowledge.

"This feedback helps us to celebrate and protect the incredibly resilient and interesting birds that visit Morecambe Bay each year, or which make it their home all year round.

"At first, many members of the public just see them as birds, but when they take a look through the telescope, hear some of the incredible facts that relate to each species, and appreciate just how far they have flown to get here, they are blown away.

"This sense of wonderment is essential to wader and wildfowl protection, which is why our Natural Ambassadors foster it."