The number of wild breeding pairs of black-tailed godwits in a trial area has increased from just three pairs in 2017 to 16 in 2022, following an ‘headstarting’ project in the Fens.

The rare birds are being given a helping hand, with the eggs hatched and chicks reared in captivity by Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) staff at Welney before they are released into the wild to go on and raise young of their own.

Will Costa, project manager and lead aviculturist at WWT, said: “Project Godwit was a crucial stepping stone for black-tailed godwits in the UK, saving them from a second extinction on the Ouse Washes and supporting their recovery as a breeding species. It’s great to see the impact of this work confirmed with robust analysis.